Lake Ames Dam
Lake Ames Dam is an earth dam located in Morris County, New Jersey, built in 1934. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lake Ames Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Ames Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Township Of Rockaway (local government). It impounds the Hibernia Brook near Rockaway.
The dam stands 9 feet tall and stretches 320 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 16 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 128 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1934, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. 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 12/06/2024.
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Location
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Morris |
| Nearest City | Rockaway |
| River/Stream | Hibernia Brook |
| Coordinates | 40.95158, -74.50052 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Length | 320 ft |
| Year Completed | 1934 (92 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 128 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 128 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 95 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 16 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 400 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Township of Rockaway |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 12/06/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ00337 |
| Federal ID | NJ00337 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |