Bagnal Builders Dam dam
Bagnal Builders Dam
Bagnal Builders Dam, located in Kershaw, South Carolina, is a privately owned earth dam primarily used for recreation purposes. Built in 1950, this dam on Horsepen Creek stands at a height of 19 feet and has a length of 380 feet, with a storage capacity of 80 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2017 was reported as poor, indicating a need for maintenance and upgrades to ensure its long-term safety and functionality.
The dam is under the regulatory oversight of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC), with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place. The structure's risk assessment is moderate, highlighting the importance of implementing risk management measures to mitigate potential hazards. Although the dam has an uncontrolled spillway and a relatively small surface area of 8 acres, its significance as a recreational resource underscores the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure public safety and environmental protection. Climate and water resource enthusiasts may find interest in tracking the developments and improvements of Bagnal Builders Dam to safeguard its integrity and enhance its recreational offerings in the future.
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 Bagnal Builders Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wateree River Nr. Camden | 3,960 cfs | → |
| Gills Creek At Columbia | 27 cfs | → |
| Smith Branch At North Main St At Columbia | 4 cfs | → |
| Congaree River At Columbia | 10,200 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Columbia | 2,670 cfs | → |
| Rocky Creek At Great Falls | 270 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bagnal Builders Dam.
Boat launches
- West Dekalb Street Lugoff
- Morning Sun Court 98, Richland County
- Lake Carolina Drive Richland County
- Buck Hill Landing Road Kershaw County
- Green Road Lancaster County
- Highway 6 6, Columbia
Track Bagnal Builders 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 Bagnal Builders Dam
Where does the data for Bagnal Builders 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 Bagnal Builders Dam.