Shoals Branch Dam dam
Shoals Branch Dam
Shoals Branch Dam, located in Sussex County, Delaware, is a state-regulated structure with a primary purpose of recreation. This gravity dam, standing at a height of 11.31 feet and stretching 215 feet in length, creates a reservoir with a storage capacity of 268 acre-feet. The dam, built on the Shoals Branch river, has a controlled spillway width of 57 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 454 cubic feet per second.
Despite its recreational significance, Shoals Branch Dam poses a high hazard potential due to its poor condition assessment and very high risk rating. With a history of state inspection and enforcement, the dam remains under the jurisdiction of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC). Although the dam has not been modified in recent years, it is equipped with one other controlled outlet gate for operational purposes.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the management and safety of dams will find Shoals Branch Dam an intriguing case study. With its unique design features and regulatory challenges, this structure serves as a focal point for discussions on risk assessment, emergency action planning, and the importance of maintaining critical infrastructure to protect surrounding communities and natural resources.
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 Shoals Branch Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Millsboro Pond Outlet At Millsboro | 46 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Ditch Near Millville | 2 cfs | → |
| Pocomoke River Near Willards | 13 cfs | → |
| Birch Branch At Showell | 1 cfs | → |
| Nanticoke River Near Bridgeville | 38 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Creek Near Salisbury | 17 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Shoals Branch Dam.
Boat launches
- Gravel Hill Road Sussex County
- Cupola Park Boat Ramp 101, Millsboro
- Cupola Park Boat Ramp 110, Millsboro
- Paleo Way Sussex County
- Chipmans Pond Road Sussex County
- Shady Acres Lane 31202, Sussex County
Campgrounds
- Trap Pond State Park
- Tall Pines Campground
- Massey Landing
- Soroptimist Park
- Delaware Seashore State Park
- Cape Henlopen State Park
Fishing spots
Track Shoals Branch 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 Shoals Branch Dam
Where does the data for Shoals Branch 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 Shoals Branch Dam.