Orange Reservoir Dam
Orange Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Essex County, New Jersey, built in 1958. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Orange Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Orange Reservoir Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Orange (local government). It impounds the West Branch Of Rahway River.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 900 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 65 acres, has a storage capacity of 245 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1958, 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 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 03/21/2024.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
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 | Essex |
| River/Stream | West Branch Of Rahway River |
| Coordinates | 40.75885, -74.28610 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 900 ft |
| Year Completed | 1958 (68 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 245 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 245 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 65 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Orange |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/21/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ00361 |
| Federal ID | NJ00361 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |