Brewster Dam
Brewster Dam is an earth dam located in Bergen County, New Jersey, built in 1949. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Brewster Dam
The primary purpose of Brewster Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Frank Trobiano (private). It impounds the Small Branch Saddle River near Ridgewood.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 180 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 32 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1949, 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 12/14/2024.
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Location
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Bergen |
| Nearest City | Ridgewood |
| River/Stream | Small Branch Saddle River |
| Coordinates | 41.00062, -74.08702 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 180 ft |
| Year Completed | 1949 (77 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 32 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 32 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 13 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 920 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Frank Trobiano |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 12/14/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ00844 |
| Federal ID | NJ00844 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |