Crystal Spring Lake Dam
Crystal Spring Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Bergen County, New Jersey, built in 1900. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Crystal Spring Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Crystal Spring Lake Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Ramsey Golf & Country Club (local government). It impounds the Ramsey Brook.
The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 550 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 14 acres, has a storage capacity of 65 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1900, 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 06/27/2024.
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 | Bergen |
| River/Stream | Ramsey Brook |
| Coordinates | 41.04753, -74.13393 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Length | 550 ft |
| Year Completed | 1900 (126 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 65 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 65 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 14 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 450 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Ramsey Golf & Country Club |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/27/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ00231 |
| Federal ID | NJ00231 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |