Paulins Kill Lake Dam impounds the Paulins Kill River and creates a 1,080-acre-foot run-of-river reservoir used for recreation by over 500 member families. Built in 1927, the dam has significant hazard potential, and in recent years failed to meet New Jersey dam safety requirements. Malcolm Pirnie was retained to clarify options for complying with state regulations.

The Pirnie team worked with the Dam Safety Section to achieve regulatory compliance. They conducted a dam safety inspection, developed an interim emergency action plan and operation and maintenance manuals. After the team performed hydraulic, hydrologic, seepage and stability analyses, as well as geotechnical subsurface investigations, they established the basis for dam rehabilitation design and prepared the design and permit applications.