Silver Lake Dam - Milford
Silver Lake Dam - Milford is a gravity dam located in Kent County, Delaware, built in 1964. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Silver Lake Dam - Milford
The primary purpose of Silver Lake Dam - Milford is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by Dnrec Dfw (state). It impounds the Mispillion River near Milford.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 750 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 32 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 520 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 26 square miles. Completed in 1964, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/10/2024.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Delaware dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Delaware |
| County | Kent |
| Nearest City | Milford |
| River/Stream | Mispillion River |
| Coordinates | 38.91133, -75.43304 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 750 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 520 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 520 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 377 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 32 acres |
| Drainage Area | 26 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,040 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Owner | DNREC DFW |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/10/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | DE00041 |
| Federal ID | DE00041 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |