Edgar M. Hoopes Dam dam
Edgar M. Hoopes Dam
The Edgar M. Hoopes Dam, located in Wooddale, Delaware, is a concrete gravity dam on the Red Clay Creek-TR river, serving as a crucial water supply source in New Castle County. Built in 1932 and standing at a structural height of 127 feet and a length of 840 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 9068 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 6730 acre-feet. The dam underwent several modifications over the years, including structural and hydraulic upgrades in 1979, 1982, 2008, and 2020 to ensure its continued functionality and safety.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), the Edgar M. Hoopes Dam is classified as a high hazard structure with a satisfactory condition assessment. Despite its moderate risk profile, the dam has not experienced any major incidents and meets the necessary safety guidelines. Its uncontrolled spillway, with a width of 28 feet, provides an essential safety feature in case of excess water flow, with a maximum discharge capacity of 2668 cubic feet per second.
With its rich history, strategic location, and vital role in water supply management, the Edgar M. Hoopes Dam stands as a testament to engineering excellence and environmental stewardship. Its continuous monitoring, inspection frequency, and adherence to regulatory standards ensure the safety and reliability of this essential water resource infrastructure in Delaware. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the dam serves as a fascinating example of sustainable water management practices and the critical role of dams in ensuring water security for communities and ecosystems.
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 Edgar M. Hoopes Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Red Clay Creek At Wooddale | 25 cfs | → |
| Brandywine Creek At Wilmington | 185 cfs | → |
| Red Clay Creek Near Stanton | 29 cfs | → |
| Red Clay Creek Near Kennett Square | 15 cfs | → |
| White Clay Creek Near Newark | 45 cfs | → |
| Shellpot Creek At Wilmington | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Edgar M. Hoopes Dam.
Boat launches
- I 95;Us 202 Wilmington
- Churchmans Road New Castle County
- Delaware Memorial Bridge Pennsville Township
- Plant Road Penns Grove
- Crown Point Road Oldmans
- Riviera Drive 54, Pennsville
Campgrounds
- Lums Pond Youth Camping
- Harmony Hill Wilderness Area Campsite
- Tinicum Island Primitive Campsite
- Yogi Bear Tall Pines Campground
- Sandy Hill Camp
- Camp Rodney
Fishing spots
Track Edgar M. Hoopes 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 Edgar M. Hoopes Dam
Where does the data for Edgar M. Hoopes 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 Edgar M. Hoopes Dam.