Moores Lake Dam dam
Moores Lake Dam
Moores Lake Dam, located in Kent County, Delaware, is a gravity dam completed in 1967 for the primary purpose of creating a Fish and Wildlife Pond. The dam, standing at a height of 14.02 feet and stretching a length of 515 feet, holds a maximum storage capacity of 446 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 30.8 acres. With its location on Isaac Branch, the dam is regulated by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement.
Despite being categorized as having a significant hazard potential, Moores Lake Dam is assessed to be in fair condition as of the last inspection in May 2020. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled and spans a width of 63 feet, allowing for a maximum discharge of 2057 cubic feet per second. While the risk assessment for the dam is moderate, with a rating of 3, there is currently no designated emergency action plan (EAP) in place. With its purpose of supporting fish and wildlife habitats and offering recreational opportunities, Moores Lake Dam serves as a vital water resource in the region.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Moores Lake Dam to be an intriguing structure, not only for its engineering design and function but also for its importance in supporting local ecosystems and recreation activities. As a state-regulated dam in Delaware, it stands as a symbol of the balance between human infrastructure development and environmental conservation efforts. With its significant hazard potential and fair condition, the ongoing monitoring and maintenance of Moores Lake Dam are crucial to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and the preservation of the natural resources it sustains.
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 Moores Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| St Jones River At Dover | 12 cfs | → |
| Murderkill River At Bowers | 493 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Branch At Houston | 0 cfs | → |
| Choptank River Near Greensboro | 33 cfs | → |
| Blackbird Creek At Blackbird | 1 cfs | → |
| Unicorn Branch Near Millington | 9 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Moores Lake Dam.
Track Moores Lake 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 Moores Lake Dam
Where does the data for Moores Lake 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 Significant 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 Moores Lake Dam.