Keels Lake Dam dam
Keels Lake Dam
Keels Lake Dam, also known as Cedar Lake Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Richland, South Carolina. Completed in 1958, this earth dam stands at a height of 30 feet and spans a length of 400 feet, creating a surface area of 6.4 acres. The primary purpose of Keels Lake Dam is irrigation, with additional recreational benefits for the surrounding area.
Managed by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), Keels Lake Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. Despite being classified with a high hazard potential, the dam is currently assessed to be in fair condition as of the last inspection in December 2020. With a maximum storage capacity of 114 acre-feet and a normal storage of 60 acre-feet, Keels Lake Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and irrigation in the region.
As a key feature in the local water infrastructure network, Keels Lake Dam provides essential irrigation resources while offering recreational opportunities for the community. With its stone core and soil foundation, this dam serves as a vital structure in the management of water resources for the area's agricultural and recreational needs. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, the maintenance and regulation of dams like Keels Lake Dam are essential for ensuring water security and resilience in the face of changing environmental 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 Keels Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Smith Branch At North Main St At Columbia | 2 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Columbia | 2,620 cfs | → |
| Congaree River At Columbia | 9,260 cfs | → |
| Gills Creek At Columbia | 44 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Below Lk Murray Dam Nr Columbia | 2,400 cfs | → |
| Broad River At Alston | 4,010 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Keels Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Carolina Drive Richland County
- Morning Sun Court 98, Richland County
- Highway 6 6, Columbia
- Cove Launch Court Lexington County
- Shull Island Boat Ramp
- Broad River Road Newberry County
Track Keels Lake 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 Keels Lake Dam
Where does the data for Keels Lake 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 High 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 Keels Lake Dam.