Collins Pond Dam dam
Collins Pond Dam
Collins Pond Dam, located in Sussex County, Delaware, was completed in 1922 and stands at a height of 10.98 feet. This gravity dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a surface area of 125.76 acres and a maximum storage capacity of 1430 acre-feet. The dam controls the flow of the Gravelly Branch river, with a spillway width of 88 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 1713 cubic feet per second.
Despite being classified as having a significant hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is rated as fair as of the last inspection in April 2020. The dam is under state jurisdiction, regulated by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), with regular inspections and enforcement measures in place. The risk assessment for Collins Pond Dam is very high, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and management to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and the integrity of the structure. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Collins Pond Dam offers a fascinating case study in dam infrastructure and management practices.
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 Collins Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nanticoke River Near Bridgeville | 38 cfs | → |
| Marshyhope Creek Near Adamsville | 22 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Branch At Houston | 0 cfs | → |
| Millsboro Pond Outlet At Millsboro | 46 cfs | → |
| Chicamacomico River Near Salem | 7 cfs | → |
| Choptank River Near Greensboro | 33 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Collins Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Hearns Mill Road Sussex County
- German Road 25095, Sussex County
- Nanticoke Avenue Seaford
- Chipmans Pond Road Sussex County
- Shady Acres Lane 31202, Sussex County
- Park Lane Laurel
Campgrounds
- Soroptimist Park
- Trap Pond State Park
- Tall Pines Campground
- Cape Henlopen State Park
- Massey Landing
- Delaware Seashore State Park
Fishing spots
Track Collins Pond 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 Collins Pond Dam
Where does the data for Collins Pond 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 Collins Pond Dam.