Blairs Pond Dam dam
Blairs Pond Dam
Blairs Pond Dam, also known as Wilson Pond, is a gravity dam located in Kent, Delaware, with a primary purpose of serving as a fish and wildlife pond. Managed by the state of Delaware, the dam is regulated by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and functionality. With a height of 14.95 feet and a length of 650 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 418 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 40.7 acres.
The dam, situated on Beaverdam Branch, features a controlled spillway with a width of 40 feet and two other controlled outlet gates. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential and fair condition assessment, the risk assessment for Blairs Pond Dam indicates a very high level of risk. Emergency action plans are in place, but have not been updated recently, raising concerns about the readiness for potential emergencies. Overall, Blairs Pond Dam presents an intriguing case study for water resource and climate enthusiasts due to its unique design and management challenges in the face of increasing risks associated with climate change and aging infrastructure.
As the dam is located within the Baltimore District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, it benefits from federal oversight and funding. However, the primary ownership and management of the dam lie with the state of Delaware, highlighting the collaborative effort required to ensure the safety and functionality of critical water infrastructure. With its historical significance and ecological importance as a fish and wildlife habitat, Blairs Pond Dam serves as a focal point for discussions on sustainable water resource management and the intersection of environmental conservation and infrastructure resilience in the face of a changing climate.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Blairs Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Beaverdam Branch At Houston | 0 cfs | → |
| Marshyhope Creek Near Adamsville | 22 cfs | → |
| Murderkill River At Bowers | 493 cfs | → |
| Nanticoke River Near Bridgeville | 38 cfs | → |
| Choptank River Near Greensboro | 33 cfs | → |
| St Jones River At Dover | 12 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Blairs Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Williamsville Road 5072, Milford
- Millwood Road Kent County
- Canterbury Road Kent County
- Lighthouse Road Sussex County
- Wagamons Pond Boat Ramp
- Kent County
Campgrounds
- Dover Afb Military
- Tall Pines Campground
- Soroptimist Park
- Cape Henlopen State Park
- Trap Pond State Park
- Massey Landing
Fishing spots
Track Blairs Pond Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Blairs Pond Dam
Where does the data for Blairs Pond Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Blairs Pond Dam.