Rickabear Dam
Rickabear Dam is an earth dam located in Morris County, New Jersey, built in 1954. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Rickabear Dam
The primary purpose of Rickabear Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Girl Scouts Of Northern New Jersey (private). It impounds the Rockaway River-tr near Kinnelon.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 1,900 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 24 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 301 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1954, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 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 04/08/2025.
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Location
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Morris |
| Nearest City | Kinnelon |
| River/Stream | Rockaway River-tr |
| Coordinates | 40.96682, -74.40900 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,900 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 301 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 301 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 269 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 24 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 30 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/08/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ00757 |
| Federal ID | NJ00757 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |