Lake Cushetunk Dam is an earth dam located in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, built in 1928. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 20 ft20 ft tall and 594 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Lake Cushetunk Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Cushetunk 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 Readington (local government). It impounds the South Branch Rockaway Creek.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 594 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 30 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 365 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 12 square miles. Completed in 1928, 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 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 10/30/2024.
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Location
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Hunterdon |
| River/Stream | South Branch Rockaway Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.62112, -74.77558 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 594 ft |
| Year Completed | 1928 (98 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 365 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 365 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 212 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 30 acres |
| Drainage Area | 12 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,766 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Township of Readington |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/30/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ00347 |
| Federal ID | NJ00347 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |