Sunset Lake Dam dam
Sunset Lake Dam
Sunset Lake Dam, also known as Silver Lake, is a private-owned structure located in Cedar Farms, New Castle, Delaware. Built in 1900, this gravity-type dam stands at a height of 13.29 feet and spans 290 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 553 acre-feet. Its primary purpose is for recreation, offering a serene spot for water enthusiasts to enjoy activities such as boating and fishing.
Despite its age, Sunset Lake Dam has a high hazard potential due to its condition being "Not Rated" and a moderate risk assessment level of 3. The dam sits on the Muddy Run stream and has a spillway width of 40 feet, allowing for a maximum discharge of 259.1 cubic feet per second. While it is not regulated by the state or federal agencies, the dam does not have a designated emergency action plan in place, raising concerns about its ability to handle potential emergencies.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Sunset Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study of a historic structure with potential vulnerabilities. As a privately-owned dam with no state regulation or inspection, there is a need for increased monitoring and risk management measures to ensure the safety and longevity of this recreational asset. Additionally, the dam's location in a high-risk area highlights the importance of proactive maintenance and emergency preparedness to mitigate potential hazards and protect surrounding communities and ecosystems.
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 Sunset Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Christina River At Coochs Bridge | 11 cfs | → |
| White Clay Creek At Newark | 49 cfs | → |
| Big Elk Creek At Elk Mills | 33 cfs | → |
| White Clay Creek Near Newark | 54 cfs | → |
| Red Clay Creek Near Stanton | 36 cfs | → |
| White Clay Creek Near Strickersville | 37 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sunset Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Churchmans Road New Castle County
- Officers Row New Castle County
- I 95;Us 202 Wilmington
- Riviera Drive 54, Pennsville
- Delaware Memorial Bridge Pennsville Township
- Port Herman Drive 92, Cecil County
Campgrounds
- Lums Pond Youth Camping
- Sandy Hill Camp
- Camp Rodney
- Camp Horseshoe
- Ramblewood
- Yogi Bear Tall Pines Campground
Fishing spots
Track Sunset 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 Sunset Lake Dam
Where does the data for Sunset 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 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 Sunset Lake Dam.