High Crest Lake Dam
High Crest Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Passaic County, New Jersey, built in 1952. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About High Crest Lake Dam
The primary purpose of High Crest Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by High Crest Lake Lodge Inc. (private). It impounds the Pequannock River-tr near Butler.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 520 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 40 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 395 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1952, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/12/2023.
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 | Passaic |
| Nearest City | Butler |
| River/Stream | Pequannock River-tr |
| Coordinates | 41.01638, -74.37127 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 520 ft |
| Year Completed | 1952 (74 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 395 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 395 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 240 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 40 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,050 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | High Crest Lake Lodge Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 12/12/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ00225 |
| Federal ID | NJ00225 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |