Steenykill Lake Dam

Steenykill Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Sussex County, New Jersey, built in 1938. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.

About Steenykill Lake Dam

The primary purpose of Steenykill Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Division Of Parks And Forestry (state). It impounds the Steent Brook.

The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 900 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 39 acres, has a storage capacity of 37 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1938, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.

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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/10/2024.

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.

High HazardFair ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateNew Jersey
CountySussex
River/StreamSteent Brook
Coordinates41.32172, -74.67277

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height25 ft
Dam Height25 ft
Dam Length900 ft
Year Completed1938 (88 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage37 acre-ft
Normal Storage37 acre-ft
Surface Area39 acres
Drainage Area0 sq mi

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerDivision of Parks and Forestry
Owner TypeState
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentFair
Last Inspection09/10/2024
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDNJ00278
Federal IDNJ00278
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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