Porter Reservoir Dam dam
Porter Reservoir Dam
Porter Reservoir Dam, located in New Castle, Delaware, was completed in 1909 and serves as a vital water supply source for the area. Owned by the local government and regulated by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), this gravity dam stands at a height of 11.8 feet and has a normal storage capacity of 103.38 acre-feet. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam is currently in fair condition as of its last assessment in 2000.
With a surface area of 6.4 acres and a drainage area of only 0.01 square miles, Porter Reservoir Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources for the surrounding community. Although it lacks a spillway, the dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 18 cubic feet per second, ensuring effective water control during peak flow periods. Despite its age, the dam continues to meet state regulatory standards, with regular inspections and enforcement measures in place to ensure its structural integrity and public safety.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Porter Reservoir Dam represents a historic engineering marvel that continues to provide essential water supply services to the residents of Wilmington. With its significant storage capacity and high hazard potential, the dam serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and managing critical infrastructure to ensure the sustainability and resilience of water resources in the face of changing climate conditions. As efforts to mitigate risks and improve infrastructure continue, Porter Reservoir Dam remains a key component of the region's water management system, highlighting the intersection of water resource management and climate adaptation in a rapidly evolving environment.
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 Porter Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Shellpot Creek At Wilmington | 2 cfs | → |
| Brandywine Creek At Wilmington | 185 cfs | → |
| Red Clay Creek At Wooddale | 25 cfs | → |
| Red Clay Creek Near Stanton | 29 cfs | → |
| Brandywine Creek At Chadds Ford | 151 cfs | → |
| Red Clay Creek Near Kennett Square | 15 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Porter Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Crown Point Road Oldmans
- Plant Road Penns Grove
- I 95;Us 202 Wilmington
- Delaware Memorial Bridge Pennsville Township
- Churchmans Road New Castle County
- Hawks Bridge Road 740, Salem County
Campgrounds
- Tinicum Island Primitive Campsite
- Lums Pond Youth Camping
- Harmony Hill Wilderness Area Campsite
- Yogi Bear Tall Pines Campground
- Parvin State Park
- Sandy Hill Camp
Fishing spots
Track Porter Reservoir 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 Porter Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Porter Reservoir 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 Porter Reservoir Dam.