Shallcross Lake Dam dam
Shallcross Lake Dam
Shallcross Lake Dam, located in Odessa, Delaware, is a gravity dam with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam, standing at a height of 8 feet and a length of 545 feet, holds a maximum storage capacity of 631 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 47.26 acres. It is situated on Drawyer Creek, within the Baltimore District of the US Army Corps of Engineers.
With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, Shallcross Lake Dam is currently not regulated or inspected by the state of Delaware. Despite its uncontrolled spillway and lack of outlet gates, the dam has not undergone a condition assessment and is not rated for its current state. However, the dam provides a tranquil recreational spot for water resource and climate enthusiasts, offering opportunities for boating, fishing, and other outdoor activities in the surrounding area.
Although Shallcross Lake Dam may not be subject to state regulations or inspections, its role in providing a recreational space along Drawyer Creek adds value to the community of Odessa and the surrounding New Castle County. As water resource and climate enthusiasts explore the area, they can appreciate the beauty of the dam and its contribution to the local environment, despite the minimal state oversight in place.
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 Shallcross Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Silver Lake Tributary At Middletown | 1 cfs | → |
| Blackbird Creek At Blackbird | 1 cfs | → |
| Christina River At Coochs Bridge | 8 cfs | → |
| Big Elk Creek At Elk Mills | 28 cfs | → |
| White Clay Creek At Newark | 39 cfs | → |
| White Clay Creek Near Newark | 45 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Shallcross Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Stave Landing Road New Castle County
- Officers Row New Castle County
- Collins Beach Road New Castle County
- Port Herman Drive 92, Cecil County
- Riviera Drive 54, Pennsville
- Stow Neck Road Salem County
Campgrounds
- Lums Pond Youth Camping
- Sandy Hill Camp
- Camp Rodney
- Yogi Bear Tall Pines Campground
- Dover Afb Military
- Parvin State Park
Fishing spots
Track Shallcross 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 Shallcross Lake Dam
Where does the data for Shallcross 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 Low 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 Shallcross Lake Dam.