Clendaniel Pond Dam is a gravity dam located in Sussex County, Delaware, built in 1810. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 10 ft10 ft tall and 445 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Clendaniel Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Clendaniel Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Joseph Warnell (private). It impounds the Hudson Mill near South Shores.
The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 445 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 23 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 330 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1810, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half 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.
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 | South Shores |
| River/Stream | Hudson Mill |
| Coordinates | 38.85771, -75.40430 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Length | 445 ft |
| Year Completed | 1810 (216 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 330 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 330 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 279 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 23 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 279 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Joseph Warnell |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | DE00085 |
| Federal ID | DE00085 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |