East Branch Reservoir Dam is a concrete dam located in Somerset County, New Jersey, built in 1905. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 33 ft33 ft tall and 142 ft long, taller than 76% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About East Branch Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of East Branch Reservoir Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by County of Somerset (local government). It impounds the East Branch near Bound Brook.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 142 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 9 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 55 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 square miles. Completed in 1905, 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 11/05/2024.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 76% 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 | Somerset |
| Nearest City | Bound Brook |
| River/Stream | East Branch |
| Coordinates | 40.58600, -74.55733 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 142 ft |
| Year Completed | 1905 (121 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 77 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 55 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 77 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 9 acres |
| Drainage Area | 10 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,675 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | County of Somerset |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/05/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ00373 |
| Federal ID | NJ00373 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |