Williams Pond Dam
Williams Pond Dam is a gravity dam located in Sussex County, Delaware, built in 1956. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Williams Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Williams 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 Clear Brook near Seaford.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 498 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 413 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 23 square miles. Completed in 1956, 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 04/11/2024.
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 | Seaford |
| River/Stream | Clear Brook |
| Coordinates | 38.64299, -75.60553 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 498 ft |
| Year Completed | 1956 (70 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 800 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 413 acres |
| Drainage Area | 23 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 636 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | DELDOT |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/11/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | DE00064 |
| Federal ID | DE00064 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |