Pennington Tailings Pond Dam dam
Pennington Tailings Pond Dam
The Pennington Tailings Pond Dam in Jefferson, Georgia, stands as a significant earth dam completed in 1991 for the primary purpose of containing tailings. Owned privately and not regulated by the state, this dam boasts a height of 89 feet and a length of 3600 feet, with a storage capacity of 544 acre-feet. The dam, designed by unknown individuals, features a buttress core type and is classified as having low hazard potential, with a moderate risk assessment rating.
Located in close proximity to the Charleston District, the Pennington Tailings Pond Dam serves a crucial function in managing tailings from mining operations in the area. While its condition remains unrated, the dam undergoes inspections every five years, with the last inspection conducted in June 2004. With uncontrolled spillways and outlet gates, the dam presents a moderate risk level that necessitates attentive risk management measures.
Despite its low hazard potential, the Pennington Tailings Pond Dam poses a moderate risk that demands ongoing monitoring and assessment to ensure the safety and integrity of the surrounding environment and communities. As a key structure for managing tailings in the region, this dam serves as a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the intersection of infrastructure, environmental protection, and risk management in the face of changing climate conditions.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Pennington Tailings Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Spirit Creek At Us 1 | 9 cfs | → |
| Butler Creek Below 7th Avenue | 8 cfs | → |
| Williamson Swamp Creek At Davisboro | 30 cfs | → |
| Savannah River At Augusta | 4,150 cfs | → |
| Brier Creek Near Waynesboro | 99 cfs | → |
| Augusta Canal Nr Augusta (Upper) | 2,110 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pennington Tailings Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Fish Hatchery Road 4416-4610, Dearing
- Mcduffie County
- Thomson Highway Lincolnton
- Mccormick County
- Lake Springs Road Columbia County
- Columbia County
Campgrounds
- Lake Leitner Military
- Hamburg State Park
- Big Hart - Strom Thurmond Lake
- Raysville - Strom Thurmond Lake
- Mistletoe State Park
- Winfield - Strom Thurmond Lake
Fishing spots
Track Pennington Tailings Pond Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Pennington Tailings Pond Dam
Where does the data for Pennington Tailings Pond Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Pennington Tailings Pond Dam.