Wheatley Pond Dam
Wheatley Pond Dam is a gravity dam located in Kent County, Delaware. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Wheatley Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Wheatley Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Wheatleys Pond Hoa (private). It impounds the Greens Branch near Smyrna.
The dam stands 8 feet tall and stretches 420 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 14 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 78 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 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.
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 | Smyrna |
| River/Stream | Greens Branch |
| Coordinates | 39.28517, -75.63081 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Length | 420 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 78 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 78 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 53 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 14 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 528 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | WHEATLEYS POND HOA |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | DE00109 |
| Federal ID | DE00109 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |