List of dam removals in New Jersey

This is a list of dams in New Jersey that have been removed as physical impediments to free-flowing rivers or streams.

Removal of the Westecunk Creek Barrier from Westecunk Creek at the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in 2015.

Completed removals

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Dam[1] Height Year removed Location Watercourse Watershed Notes
Cedar Creek Weir 5 ft (1.5 m) 2014 Lacey Township
39°52′04″N 74°10′08″W / 39.8678°N 74.1689°W / 39.8678; -74.1689 (Cedar Creek Weir)
Cedar Creek Barnegat Bay Dam built for stream gauge purposes. Owned by the United States Geological Survey.
Kincaid Lake Dam 16 ft (4.9 m) 2018 Harrison Township
39°42′26″N 75°11′25″W / 39.7073°N 75.1902°W / 39.7073; -75.1902 (Kincaid Lake Dam)
Big Clems Run Delaware River Dam built for recreation. Owned by Gloucester County and several private landowners.
Glenside Dam 12 ft (3.7 m) 1997 Blackwood
39°46′29″N 75°03′14″W / 39.7747°N 75.0539°W / 39.7747; -75.0539 (Glenside Dam)
Tributary to South Branch Big Timber Creek
Sooy Lake Dam 8 ft (2.4 m) 2013 Woodland Township
39°51′28″N 74°35′51″W / 39.8579°N 74.5975°W / 39.8579; -74.5975 (Sooy Lake Dam)
Tributary to Burrs Mill Brook Dam built for agriculture.
Sterling Lake Dam 14.5 ft (4.4 m) 2011 Washington Township, Gloucester County
39°44′08″N 75°06′38″W / 39.7356°N 75.1106°W / 39.7356; -75.1106 (Sterling Lake Dam)
Duffield Run Dam built for recreation.
Camp Inawendiwin Lower Dam 11 ft (3.4 m) 2014 Tabernacle Township
39°52′09″N 74°41′36″W / 39.8693°N 74.6932°W / 39.8693; -74.6932 (Camp Inawendiwin Lower Dam)
Friendship Creek Dam built for recreation at Camp Inawendiwin, a Girl Scout camp.
Stone's Dam 9 ft (2.7 m) 2013 Milford
40°34′31″N 75°05′39″W / 40.5752°N 75.0942°W / 40.5752; -75.0942 (Stone's Dam)
Hakihokake Creek Owned by the Borough of Milford.
Gruendyke Mill Dam[2] 7 ft (2.1 m) 2007 Hackettstown
40°50′56″N 74°49′17″W / 40.8488°N 74.8214°W / 40.8488; -74.8214 (Gruendyke Mill Dam)
Musconetcong River Dam built for a grist mill and ice harvesting.
Seber Dam[2] 4 ft (1.2 m)[3] 2009 Hackettstown
40°51′12″N 74°48′43″W / 40.8532°N 74.812°W / 40.8532; -74.812 (Seber Dam)
Riegelsville Mill Dam[3] 8 ft (2.4 m) 2011 Holland Township
40°35′54″N 75°10′37″W / 40.5983°N 75.177°W / 40.5983; -75.177 (Riegelsville Mill Dam)
Mill dam.
Hughesville Dam[3] 17 ft (5.2 m) 2016 Holland Township and Pohatcong Township
40°37′48″N 75°08′18″W / 40.63°N 75.1384°W / 40.63; -75.1384 (Hughesville Dam)
Paper mill dam owned by the International Process Plants and Equipment Corporation.
Finesville Dam[3] 9 ft (2.7 m) 2011 Pohatcong Township
40°36′22″N 75°10′15″W / 40.606°N 75.1707°W / 40.606; -75.1707 (Finesville Dam)
Mill dam.
Columbia Lake Dam 18 ft (5.5 m) 2018 Knowlton Township
40°55′27″N 75°05′14″W / 40.9241°N 75.0873°W / 40.9241; -75.0873 (Columbia Lake Dam)
Paulins Kill Hydropower dam owned by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. NJ00124.
County Line Dam 3 ft (0.91 m) 2022 Stillwater Township and Hardwick Township
41°01′12″N 74°53′12″W / 41.02°N 74.8868°W / 41.02; -74.8868 (County Line Dam)
Timber mill dam.
Willever Lake Dam 9 ft (2.7 m) 2011 Mansfield Township, Warren County
40°47′34″N 74°57′23″W / 40.7927°N 74.9563°W / 40.7927; -74.9563 (Willever Lake Dam)
Pohatcong Creek Dam built for recreation. National Inventory of Dams ID NJ00130.
Warren Hills Regional School District Dam 12 ft (3.7 m) 2020 Washington Township, Warren County
40°46′23″N 74°59′59″W / 40.773°N 74.9998°W / 40.773; -74.9998 (Warren Hills Regional School District Dam)
Tributary to Pohatcong Creek Owned by the Warren Hills Regional School District.
Lake Basgalore Dam 13 ft (4.0 m) 2018 Woolwich Township
39°44′06″N 75°17′01″W / 39.7351°N 75.2835°W / 39.7351; -75.2835 (Lake Basgalore Dam)
Tributary to Raccoon Creek Dam built for recreation. Owned by Gloucester County and several private landowners.
Father John's Lane Dam 10 ft (3.0 m) 2009 Lafayette Township
41°05′14″N 74°40′15″W / 41.0873°N 74.6708°W / 41.0873; -74.6708 (Father John's Lane Dam)
Tributary to Paulins Kill Dam built for recreation.
Middleville Dam 25 ft (7.6 m) 2009 Stillwater Township
41°03′27″N 74°53′19″W / 41.0575°N 74.8886°W / 41.0575; -74.8886 (Middleville Dam)
Tributary to Paulins Kill Dam built for recreation.
Piraneo Lake Dam 10 ft (3.0 m) 2014 Andover
40°59′03″N 74°44′14″W / 40.9841°N 74.7373°W / 40.9841; -74.7373 (Piraneo Lake Dam)
Tributary to Pequest River Privately owned, sold to New Jersey after removal.
Pursel's Mill Dam[3] 15 ft (4.6 m) 2006 Phillipsburg
40°40′38″N 75°10′12″W / 40.6772°N 75.17°W / 40.6772; -75.17 (Pursel's Mill Dam)
Lopatcong Creek Mill dam.
Flower Hill Dam 10 ft (3.0 m) 2017 Hopewell Township, Mercer County
40°17′19″N 74°46′48″W / 40.2887°N 74.7799°W / 40.2887; -74.7799 (Flower Hill Dam)
Tributary to Shabakunk Creek Owned by The College of New Jersey.
No. 10 Watergate Pond Dam 16 ft (4.9 m) 2021 Hardwick Township
41°04′08″N 74°58′41″W / 41.069°N 74.978°W / 41.069; -74.978 (No. 10 Watergate Pond Dam)
Van Campens Brook Dams removed as a principal part of the Watergate Wetlands Restoration Project within Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.[4]
No. 2 Watergate Pond Dam 9 ft (2.7 m) 2021 Hardwick Township
41°04′08″N 74°58′19″W / 41.069°N 74.972°W / 41.069; -74.972 (No. 2 Watergate Pond Dam)
Upper Blue Mountain Dam 26 ft (7.9 m) 1995 Layton
41°06′14″N 74°55′26″W / 41.1039°N 74.9238°W / 41.1039; -74.9238 (Upper Blue Mountain Dam)
Tributary to Van Campens Brook
Pool Colony Dam 1999 Newton
41°05′10″N 74°55′49″W / 41.086°N 74.9304°W / 41.086; -74.9304 (Pool Colony Dam)
Tributary to Van Campens Brook
Lake Success Dam 20 ft (6.1 m) 1995 Walpack Township
41°06′30″N 74°53′24″W / 41.1083°N 74.8899°W / 41.1083; -74.8899 (Lake Success Dam)
Tributary to Van Campens Brook
Lore's Mill Dam 8 ft (2.4 m) 2022 Commercial Township
39°17′10″N 75°03′48″W / 39.286°N 75.0632°W / 39.286; -75.0632 (New Jersey No Name # 119 Dam (Lore's Mill Dam))
Dividing Creek Dividing Creek Owned by the Unimin Corporation and the County of Cumberland.
Unexpected Road Dam 7.5 ft (2.3 m) 2014 Buena Vista Township
39°33′58″N 74°55′34″W / 39.566°N 74.9262°W / 39.566; -74.9262 (Unexpected Road Dam)
Tributary to Hospitality Branch Great Egg Harbor River
New Jersey No Name # 125 Dam 8 ft (2.4 m) 2010 Hamilton Township, Atlantic County
39°28′53″N 74°42′45″W / 39.4813°N 74.7124°W / 39.4813; -74.7124 (New Jersey No Name # 125 Dam)
Race Branch Irrigation dams.
New Jersey No Name # 126 Dam 7 ft (2.1 m) 2010 Hamilton Township, Atlantic County
39°28′54″N 74°42′53″W / 39.4817°N 74.7146°W / 39.4817; -74.7146 (New Jersey No Name # 126 Dam)
Wrubel Swimming Pool Dam 8 ft (2.4 m) 2013 Demarest
40°56′43″N 73°56′35″W / 40.9453°N 73.9431°W / 40.9453; -73.9431 (Wrubel Swimming Pool Dam)
Cresskill Brook Hackensack River Dam built for swimming.
Westecunk Creek Barrier 8 ft (2.4 m) 2015 Eagleswood Township
39°38′29″N 74°18′31″W / 39.6414°N 74.3086°W / 39.6414; -74.3086 (Westecunk Creek Barrier)
Westecunk Creek Little Egg Harbor Located within Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.[5]
Burnt Mills Dam 8 ft (2.4 m) 2019 Bedminster
39°31′56″N 75°02′41″W / 39.5323°N 75.0447°W / 39.5323; -75.0447 (Burnt Mills Dam)
Burnt Mill Branch Maurice River Grist mill dam owned by the Township of Bedminster. NJ00632.
Westor Dam 19 ft (5.8 m) 2016 Holmdel Township
40°20′23″N 74°11′13″W / 40.3398°N 74.187°W / 40.3398; -74.187 (Westor Dam)
Tributary to Willow Brook Navesink River Irrigation and farm pond dam.
Fullenkamp Dam 6.4 ft (2.0 m) 2011 Harding Township
40°45′57″N 74°30′19″W / 40.7658°N 74.5052°W / 40.7658; -74.5052 (Fullenkamp Dam)
Catfish Brook Passaic River Dam built for agriculture.
Patex Pond Dam 20 ft (6.1 m) 1990 Montville
40°55′01″N 74°22′58″W / 40.917°N 74.3827°W / 40.917; -74.3827 (Patex Pond Dam)
Crooked Brook
Lake Hudsonia Dam 10 ft (3.0 m) 2021 Morris Township
40°57′58″N 74°29′47″W / 40.966°N 74.4964°W / 40.966; -74.4964 (Lake Hudsonia Dam)
Hibernia Brook Built for recreation at a Girl Scout Camp. Owned by the Township of Rockaway. NJ00753.
Cooke's Pond Dam 6.9 ft (2.1 m) 2010 Franklin Lakes Borough
41°01′48″N 74°10′20″W / 41.0299°N 74.1723°W / 41.0299; -74.1723 (Cooke's Pond Dam)
Tributary to Ho-Ho-Kus Brook
Lake Hartung Dam 10 ft (3.0 m) 2021 Jefferson Township
41°02′28″N 74°32′01″W / 41.041°N 74.5337°W / 41.041; -74.5337 (Lake Hartung Dam)
Russia Brook
Knox Hill Dam 18 ft (5.5 m) 1996 Morristown
40°48′24″N 74°30′30″W / 40.8067°N 74.5083°W / 40.8067; -74.5083 (Knox Hill Dam)
Tributary to Whippany River
Bodine Pond Dam 6 ft (1.8 m) 2011 Franklin Township, Hunterdon County
40°33′51″N 74°56′10″W / 40.5643°N 74.9361°W / 40.5643; -74.9361 (Bodine Pond Dam)
Tributary to Capoolong Creek Raritan River Dam built for recreation.
Pottersville Dam 20 ft (6.1 m) 1985 Califon
40°43′21″N 74°45′12″W / 40.7226°N 74.7533°W / 40.7226; -74.7533 (Pottersville Dam)
Cold Brook
Weston Mill Dam 5 ft (1.5 m) 2017 Manville and Franklin Township, Somerset County
40°31′49″N 74°35′17″W / 40.5302°N 74.588°W / 40.5302; -74.588 (Weston Mill Dam)
Millstone River Hydropower dam owned by New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry.
Nevius Street Dam[3] 2.45 ft (0.75 m) 2013 Raritan
40°33′53″N 74°38′11″W / 40.5648°N 74.6364°W / 40.5648; -74.6364 (Nevius Street Dam)
Raritan River Dam built for aesthetics. Owned by Duke Farms.
Roberts Street Dam[3] 7.5 ft (2.3 m) 2012 Bridgewater Township
40°33′24″N 74°38′55″W / 40.5566°N 74.6486°W / 40.5566; -74.6486 (Roberts Street Dam)
Dam built for irrigation and recreation. Owned by the Park Commission of Somerset County.
Calco Dam[3] 7 ft (2.1 m) 2011 Bridgewater Township
40°33′03″N 74°33′07″W / 40.5508°N 74.5519°W / 40.5508; -74.5519 (Calco Dam (Diffusion Weir))
Chemical dispersion dam owned by the Somerset Raritan Valley Sewerage Authority.
Fieldsville Dam 10 ft (3.0 m) 1990 Somerset
40°32′27″N 74°30′46″W / 40.5409°N 74.5128°W / 40.5409; -74.5128 (Fieldsville Dam)
Sylvan Lake Dam 2012 Skillman
40°24′45″N 74°41′45″W / 40.4124°N 74.6957°W / 40.4124; -74.6957 (Sylvan Lake Dam)
Rock Brook
Camp Beisler Dam 17.1 ft (5.2 m) 2021 Lebanon Township
40°45′24″N 74°51′51″W / 40.7568°N 74.8641°W / 40.7568; -74.8641 (Camp Beisler Dam)
Spruce Run National Inventory of Dams ID NJ00141.
Jericho Pond Dam 5.5 ft (1.7 m) 2021 Stow Creek Township
39°28′15″N 75°21′08″W / 39.4707°N 75.3523°W / 39.4707; -75.3523 (Jericho Pond Dam)
Stow Creek Stow Creek Owned by the County of Cumberland. NJ00631.
Kazmar Pond Dam 6 ft (1.8 m) 2017 Vernon Township
41°12′10″N 74°24′32″W / 41.2027°N 74.4088°W / 41.2027; -74.4088 (Kazmar Pond Dam)
Tributary to Wawayanda Creek Wallkill River Dam built for recreation, owned by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry.

References

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  1. ^ "American Rivers Dam Removal Database". Figshare. American Rivers. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b Lockwood, Jim (26 February 2009). "Centuries-old dams is removed from Musconetcong River". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Hamilton, Pat; Craig, Laura (2017). "Restoring Free-flowing Rivers" (PDF). New Jersey Fish & Wildlife Digest. No. 2017 Freshwater Issue. New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  4. ^ "NPS Announces Completion of the Watergate Wetlands Restoration Project". National Park Service. 31 October 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Removal of Westecunk Creek Barrier". FWS.gov. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
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