Peddie Lake Dam
Peddie Lake Dam is a concrete dam located in Mercer County, New Jersey, built in 1923. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Peddie Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Peddie Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Borough Of Hightstown (local government). It impounds the Rocky Brook near Princeton.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 72 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 18 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 154 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 14 square miles. Completed in 1923, the structure is over a century old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/18/2024.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The New Jersey dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Mercer |
| Nearest City | Princeton |
| River/Stream | Rocky Brook |
| Coordinates | 40.27022, -74.52235 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 72 ft |
| Year Completed | 1923 (103 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 154 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 154 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 63 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 18 acres |
| Drainage Area | 14 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 860 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Borough of Hightstown |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/18/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ00149 |
| Federal ID | NJ00149 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |