Merrill Creek Main Dam is an earth dam located in Warren County, New Jersey, built in 1988. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 280 ft280 ft tall and 1,140 ft long, taller than 99% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against the Statue of Liberty, 305 ft ground to torch; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Merrill Creek Main Dam
Merrill Creek Main Dam is a dam in Warren, New Jersey. The dam is owned by Merrill Creek Owners Group (private). It impounds the Merrill Creek.
The dam stands 280 feet tall and stretches 1,140 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 690 acres, has a storage capacity of 46,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1988, the structure is 38 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 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 06/12/2024.
At 280 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Warren |
| River/Stream | Merrill Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.72715, -75.10290 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 280 ft |
| Dam Height | 280 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,140 ft |
| Year Completed | 1988 (38 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 46,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 46,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 690 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Merrill Creek Owners Group |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/12/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ00864 |
| Federal ID | NJ00864 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |