Millsboro Pond Dam dam
Millsboro Pond Dam
Millsboro Pond Dam, located in Sussex County, Delaware, is a gravity dam completed in 1920 with a primary purpose of creating a fish and wildlife pond. The dam stands at a height of 15.13 feet and has a length of 510 feet, impounding a maximum storage of 336 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Mirey Branch, with a drainage area of 62.4 square miles and a surface area of 183.65 acres.
Despite its historical significance, Millsboro Pond Dam is currently rated as having a high hazard potential and poor condition assessment. The last inspection in April 2020 revealed the need for improvements, with a very high risk assessment rating. The dam is regulated by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure public safety and environmental protection.
The presence of two slide gates for outlet control and a controlled spillway with a width of 160 feet indicate the importance of proper maintenance and monitoring of Millsboro Pond Dam. With its critical role in providing habitat for fish and wildlife, as well as recreational opportunities, efforts to address the dam's condition and reduce risk are essential for the long-term safety and sustainability of this water resource in 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 Millsboro Pond 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 | → |
| Birch Branch At Showell | 1 cfs | → |
| Pocomoke River Near Willards | 13 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 Millsboro Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Cupola Park Boat Ramp 101, Millsboro
- Cupola Park Boat Ramp 110, Millsboro
- Gravel Hill Road Sussex County
- Paleo Way Sussex County
- Marina Drive Sussex County
- Topaz Road Sussex County
Campgrounds
- Massey Landing
- Tall Pines Campground
- Trap Pond State Park
- Delaware Seashore State Park
- Cape Henlopen State Park
- Soroptimist Park
Fishing spots
Track Millsboro 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 Millsboro Pond Dam
Where does the data for Millsboro 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 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 Millsboro Pond Dam.