Ralph Senterfeit Dam dam
Ralph Senterfeit Dam
Ralph Senterfeit Dam, located in Lexington, South Carolina, was completed in 1960 and serves as a vital water resource for the community. The dam, with a height of 17 feet and a length of 500 feet, primarily functions for recreational purposes, offering a peaceful retreat for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy the surrounding Thasher Branch river. Despite being privately owned, the dam is regulated and inspected by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to ensure its safety and structural integrity.
With a low hazard potential and a poor condition assessment as of the last inspection in April 2017, there are ongoing concerns about the dam's stability and maintenance requirements. The risk assessment categorizes the dam as having a moderate risk level, emphasizing the need for proactive risk management measures to mitigate any potential hazards. Although the dam has not undergone any modifications in recent years, it remains a critical infrastructure that requires careful monitoring and regular assessments to uphold its functionality and safety standards for the surrounding community.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the importance of maintaining structures like Ralph Senterfeit Dam becomes increasingly significant. With proper risk management strategies and adherence to regulatory guidelines, the dam can continue to provide essential water storage and recreational opportunities while ensuring the safety and well-being of the local residents who rely on it.
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 Ralph Senterfeit Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mctier Creek (Rd 209) Near Monetta | 20 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Below Lk Murray Dam Nr Columbia | 770 cfs | → |
| Bush River Nr Prosperity | 387 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Columbia | 2,670 cfs | → |
| Congaree River At Columbia | 10,200 cfs | → |
| Smith Branch At North Main St At Columbia | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ralph Senterfeit Dam.
Boat launches
- Sandlapper Way 159, Lexington County
- Cabana Way Lexington County
- Eastshore Drive 143, Lexington County
- Shull Island Boat Ramp
- 844 Riverbend Point, Leesville, Sc 29070
- Sassafras Lane Newberry County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Ralph Senterfeit 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 Ralph Senterfeit Dam
Where does the data for Ralph Senterfeit 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 Ralph Senterfeit Dam.