Silver Lake Dam - Dover
Silver Lake Dam - Dover is a gravity dam located in Kent County, Delaware, built in 1944. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Silver Lake Dam - Dover
The primary purpose of Silver Lake Dam - Dover is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City Of Dover (local government). It impounds the Saint Jones River near Dover.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 630 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 71 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,835 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 31 square miles. Completed in 1944, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/06/2024.
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 | Dover |
| River/Stream | Saint Jones River |
| Coordinates | 39.16829, -75.52155 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 630 ft |
| Year Completed | 1944 (82 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,835 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,835 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,432 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 71 acres |
| Drainage Area | 31 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | CITY OF DOVER |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/06/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | DE00031 |
| Federal ID | DE00031 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |