Weather forecasts indicate the potential for a significant rainfall event in the area of your dam.  At this time NJDEP is reminding high and significant hazard dam owners to check your Emergency Action Plan to ensure that all contacts for emergency notification and emergency resources (engineers, contractors, supplies, etc.) are up to date.  Please also take a moment to refresh yourself regarding the dam owner’s responsibilities in the event of an emergency.

Monitor your dam before, during and after the storm event and report any concerns to this office.  Prior to the storm, take precautions to ensure that all spillways are clear of debris and that floating objects (boats, floating docks, etc.) which could block a spillway during high flow events are secured, where possible.  If you discover that a potential emergency condition exists at the dam, you should immediately contact this office and your engineer, as well as implement your Emergency Action Plan.

If your dam has any known vulnerabilities that you wish to discuss in advance of the storm, we recommend that you first contact your engineer.  You may also contact this office.  No modifications may be made to the dam without approval from this office.

NJDEP does not require the lowering of impoundments in advance of storms unless the integrity of the dam is in question.  If a dam owner chooses to lower an impoundment for any reason, we urge the owner to coordinate with local emergency management officials to ensure that any increased flow as a result of the lowering does not create flooding conditions downstream of the dam, and to notify the NJDEP at the Toll Free 24 Hour Hotline at (877) 927-6337. 

Bureau of Dam Safety & Flood Control
(609) 984-0859