Burton Pond Dam
Burton Pond Dam is a gravity dam located in Sussex County, Delaware. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Burton Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Burton Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Deldot (state). It impounds the Chapel Branch near Angola By The Bay.
The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 677 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 54 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 363 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9 square miles.
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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/09/2024.
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 | Sussex |
| Nearest City | Angola By The Bay |
| River/Stream | Chapel Branch |
| Coordinates | 38.67172, -75.18594 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Length | 677 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 363 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 363 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 125 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 54 acres |
| Drainage Area | 9 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 701 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | DelDOT |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/09/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | DE00062 |
| Federal ID | DE00062 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |