David O'Cain Dam dam
David O'Cain Dam
The David O'Cain Dam, located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, was completed in 1960 and serves as a recreational resource for the local community. Standing at a height of 14 feet and with a length of 700 feet, this earth-type dam on the Turkey Hill Branch provides a storage capacity of 88 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 45 acre-feet. Despite its primary purpose for recreation, the dam is also designated as state-regulated, with inspections conducted by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Although the dam has a low hazard potential, its condition assessment in 2017 reported poor conditions, indicating a need for maintenance and potential improvements. The inspection frequency is set at every 5 years, with the last assessment conducted in July 2017. While the dam's emergency action plan status and risk assessment details are currently unspecified, the local community and regulatory agencies remain vigilant in ensuring the safety and integrity of the David O'Cain Dam. Water resource and climate enthusiasts may find interest in monitoring developments related to this structure and its impact on the surrounding environment.
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 David O'Cain Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Fork Edisto River At Orangeburg | 226 cfs | → |
| South Fork Edisto River Near Bamberg | 225 cfs | → |
| South Fork Edisto River Near Cope | 225 cfs | → |
| South Fork Edisto River Near Denmark | 222 cfs | → |
| Wateree R. Bl Eastover | 2,400 cfs | → |
| Gills Creek At Columbia | 13 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near David O'Cain Dam.
Boat launches
- Shillings Bridge Road Orangeburg County
- Savannah Highway Neeses
- Bobcat Landing Road , 29003
- Cannon Bridge Road ,
- Us 601 Calhoun County
- Landing Lane Calhoun County
Track David O'Cain 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 David O'Cain Dam
Where does the data for David O'Cain 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 David O'Cain Dam.