Haven Lake Dam
Haven Lake Dam is a gravity dam located in Kent County, Delaware. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Haven Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Haven Lake Dam 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 Deldot;dnrec Dfw (state). It impounds the Mispillion River near Milford.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 978 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 88 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 390 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 25 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 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 05/23/2024.
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 | 38.91315, -75.44383 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 978 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 390 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 390 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 88 acres |
| Drainage Area | 25 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,230 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Owner | DELDOT;DNREC DFW |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/23/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | DE00042 |
| Federal ID | DE00042 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |