Washington Lake West Dam is an earth dam located in Bergen County, New Jersey, built in 1980. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 10 ft10 ft tall and 300 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Washington Lake West Dam
The primary purpose of Washington Lake West Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Washington Lake Association (private). It impounds the Musquapsink Brook near Westwood.
The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 28 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 252 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1980, the structure is 46 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 10/02/2024.
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Location
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Bergen |
| Nearest City | Westwood |
| River/Stream | Musquapsink Brook |
| Coordinates | 40.98617, -74.06083 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1980 (46 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 252 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 252 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 140 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 28 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,600 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Washington Lake Association |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/02/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ00899 |
| Federal ID | NJ00899 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |