The rehabilitation of the historic Lake Lenape Dam in Mays Landing received the 2026 National Dam Rehabilitation Award from the Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO), recognizing the project for its innovative design, funding strategy and improvements to public safety.
The Lake Lenape project was recognized as the organization’s top dam rehabilitation project of the year, according to a June 26 news release from Congressman Jeff Van Drew’s office.
“The project is innovative in its approach to design and funding, while also providing environmental, economic and community benefits,” ASDSO President John Roche said in the release. “The project will serve as a case study on how to successfully and proactively invest in public safety at our nation’s dams.”
According to the Association of State Dam Safety Officials, the Lake Lenape Dam was originally built in the late 1800s and consists of a 17-foot-high, 1,000-foot-long earthen embankment, a 120-foot masonry spillway and three low-level outlet pipes.
Because homes and a municipal roadway are located downstream, the dam had been classified as a high-hazard structure, meaning a failure could have resulted in significant property damage and potential loss of life, the association reported.
The rehabilitation replaced the aging dam with a modern structure designed to improve safety and better withstand severe weather.
Construction on the project started in spring 2023 and wrapped up in late 2025. During the initial phase, which was finished in early 2024, crews renovated and upgraded the dam’s powerhouse, according to a Facebook post by Hamilton Township Mayor Carl Pitale.
Work then shifted to extending the spillway and installing new floodgates designed to better control high water levels and reduce the risk of flooding for downstream communities during heavy storms.
The project also relocated the fish ladder to enhance fish passage and improve the surrounding ecosystem. In addition, workers reinforced the earthen embankments to address seepage concerns and help prevent future sinkholes.
According to Van Drew’s office, the project was supported by $4.6 million in federal funding he secured, along with contributions from the State of New Jersey’s Dam Restoration Grant Program and local funding from Atlantic County and Hamilton Township.
The congressman said the national recognition reflects years of collaboration among local, county, state and federal partners.
“This National Dam Award proves that South Jersey can achieve greatness,” Van Drew said in the news release. “This is a big deal. There is only one project selected from across the entire country. I worked closely with Atlantic County and Hamilton Township to nominate the Lake Lenape Dam and win this award. The dam is now a strong, secure, technologically advanced piece of infrastructure that some residents are calling the most beautiful dam in America. Thank you to ASDSO for this tremendous honor.”
Pitale said the award reflects the efforts of many community members who advocated for the project.
“What a proud moment for everyone involved! The residents that signed petitions, the local businesses that wrote letters and Congressman Van Drew, helping us secure the $4.6 million grant, which really put this project on the road to completion,” he said. “Kudos to Atlantic County, the Township of Hamilton, WSP-USA and South State Incorporated for getting this beautiful dam built safely, efficiently and on schedule. We no longer need to worry about the safety of our residents every time a significant rain event comes around. An important piece of infrastructure is now replaced and has become a magnificent focal point of Downtown Mays Landing!”
According to the Great Egg Harbor Watershed Association, the Lake Lenape Dam has been part of Mays Landing’s history since the mid-1800s. Originally constructed around 1844 by Jeremiah Stull, the dam created what was then known as Mays Landing Pond by flooding roughly 300 acres of farmland.
After the original structure failed, it was rebuilt to generate water power for a cotton mill established by R.D. Wood & Company. The mill operated for decades before closing in 1949, after which the property was used by Wheaton Industries until the company ceased operations there around 1999.
Today, the dam is an armored earthen embankment stretching about 1,050 feet across the Great Egg Harbor River. Standing approximately 29 feet high, it continues to serve as a prominent feature of the region’s landscape and watershed, controlling the flow of the river and preventing downstream flooding during heavy storms.
According to the ASDSO, the dam is jointly owned by Atlantic County and Hamilton Township and is used primarily for recreation. The organization noted that the project serves as an example of how partnerships between federal, state and local governments can modernize aging infrastructure while improving public safety.
The Lake Lenape project was the only rehabilitation selected nationwide for the 2026 award, highlighting that the restoration addresses long-standing safety concerns during major storm events while becoming a centerpiece of downtown Mays Landing.
Julia graduated from Rider University in 2024 with a BA in multiplatform journalism and minor in social media strategies. In addition to reporting on local news for Shore Local, she is a social media strategist for small businesses. Connect with her: shorelocaljulia@gmail.com or @juliatrain on Instagram.
