Crystal Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Bergen County, New Jersey, built in 1960. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 14 ft14 ft tall and 470 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 Crystal Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Crystal Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by New Jersey Turnnpike Authority (state). It impounds the Hackensack-tr near Leonia.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 470 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 18 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1960, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 09/18/2024.
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Location
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Bergen |
| Nearest City | Leonia |
| River/Stream | Hackensack-tr |
| Coordinates | 40.87383, -73.98168 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 470 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 18 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 18 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 12 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,002 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | New Jersey Turnnpike Authority |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/18/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NJ01062 |
| Federal ID | NJ01062 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |