Don Taylor Dam dam
Don Taylor Dam
Don Taylor Dam, located in Kershaw, South Carolina, serves as a vital recreational resource for the community. Completed in 1972, this earth-type dam stands at a height of 19 feet and spans 570 feet in length, creating a storage capacity of 167 acre-feet. Despite its primary purpose for recreation, the dam is also state-regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, ensuring safety and compliance with inspection, permitting, and enforcement measures.
However, recent assessments have shown that the condition of Don Taylor Dam is poor, with a hazard potential rated as low and a moderate risk level. The last inspection in March 2017 highlighted the need for improvements to enhance the structural integrity and overall safety of the dam. With a risk management plan yet to be fully outlined, stakeholders and authorities must prioritize necessary measures to mitigate potential risks and safeguard the surrounding community and environment.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is crucial to monitor the maintenance and rehabilitation efforts of Don Taylor Dam to ensure its long-term sustainability. With its strategic location on TR-Horsepen Creek and under the Savannah District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, the dam plays a significant role in water management and flood control. By addressing the current poor condition and moderate risk assessment, stakeholders can work towards a resilient and secure infrastructure that prioritizes both recreational enjoyment and environmental conservation.
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 Don Taylor 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 Don Taylor Dam.
Boat launches
- Morning Sun Court 98, Richland County
- West Dekalb Street Lugoff
- Lake Carolina Drive Richland County
- Buck Hill Landing Road Kershaw County
- Green Road Lancaster County
- Highway 6 6, Columbia
Track Don Taylor 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 Don Taylor Dam
Where does the data for Don Taylor 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 Don Taylor Dam.