Silver Lake Dam - Middletown dam
Silver Lake Dam - Middletown
Silver Lake Dam in Middletown, Delaware, stands as a vital structure for water resource and climate enthusiasts, with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1931, this gravity dam spans 520 feet in length and reaches a height of 18 feet, holding a storage capacity of 452 acre-feet. Situated on Deep Creek, the dam boasts a controlled spillway with a width of 45 feet to manage peak discharges of up to 2100 cubic feet per second.
Despite its historical significance, Silver Lake Dam poses a high hazard potential and is currently assessed to be in poor condition as of the last inspection in April 2020. The dam's risk assessment reveals a very high risk level, emphasizing the need for enhanced risk management measures. With the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) overseeing state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement, efforts are being made to address the dam's deficiencies and ensure public safety.
As a focal point for water management and conservation in the region, Silver Lake Dam serves as a reminder of the importance of infrastructure maintenance and risk mitigation in the face of changing climate patterns. With ongoing monitoring and potential modifications, this iconic dam continues to play a crucial role in protecting communities and enhancing recreational opportunities along Deep Creek in New Castle County, Delaware.
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 Silver Lake Dam - Middletown -- 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 | → |
| Unicorn Branch Near Millington | 7 cfs | → |
| Big Elk Creek At Elk Mills | 27 cfs | → |
| White Clay Creek At Newark | 37 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Silver Lake Dam - Middletown.
Boat launches
- Stave Landing Road New Castle County
- Collins Beach Road New Castle County
- Officers Row New Castle County
- Fredericktown Boat Ramp
- Port Herman Drive 92, Cecil County
- Woodland Beach Road 7414, Kent County
Campgrounds
- Lums Pond Youth Camping
- Sandy Hill Camp
- Camp Rodney
- Yogi Bear Tall Pines Campground
- Dover Afb Military
- Ramblewood
Fishing spots
Track Silver Lake Dam - Middletown 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 Silver Lake Dam - Middletown
Where does the data for Silver Lake Dam - Middletown 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 Silver Lake Dam - Middletown.