Canal Farms Dam dam
Canal Farms Dam
Canal Farms Dam, also known as Canal Farms Pond, is a privately owned structure in New Castle, Delaware, designed by USDA NRCS and completed in 1962. This gravity dam serves as a crucial component for Flood Risk Reduction along the Delaware River. With a height of 13 feet and a length of 468 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 230 acre-feet, providing protection for the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Despite being unregulated by the state, Canal Farms Dam boasts a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway, with a width of 15 feet, and has not been inspected since April 1995. While the condition assessment remains unrated, the structure continues to fulfill its primary purpose effectively, with a normal storage capacity of 75 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.62 square miles.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the role of Canal Farms Dam in mitigating flood risks and preserving the integrity of the surrounding environment. This structure, with its stone core and soil foundation, stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts of the Natural Resources Conservation Service in safeguarding the community against potential water-related disasters.
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 Canal Farms Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Silver Lake Tributary At Middletown | 1 cfs | → |
| Christina River At Coochs Bridge | 7 cfs | → |
| Blackbird Creek At Blackbird | 1 cfs | → |
| White Clay Creek Near Newark | 45 cfs | → |
| Red Clay Creek Near Stanton | 26 cfs | → |
| White Clay Creek At Newark | 33 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Canal Farms Dam.
Boat launches
- Officers Row New Castle County
- Stave Landing Road New Castle County
- Riviera Drive 54, Pennsville
- Collins Beach Road New Castle County
- Churchmans Road New Castle County
- Delaware Memorial Bridge Pennsville Township
Campgrounds
- Lums Pond Youth Camping
- Yogi Bear Tall Pines Campground
- Sandy Hill Camp
- Camp Rodney
- Parvin State Park
- Tinicum Island Primitive Campsite
Fishing spots
Track Canal Farms 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 Canal Farms Dam
Where does the data for Canal Farms 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 Low 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 Canal Farms Dam.