Sikes Pond Dam dam
Sikes Pond Dam
Sikes Pond Dam, located in Calhoun, South Carolina, is a privately owned structure built in 1940 primarily for recreational purposes. The dam, standing at a height of 17 feet and stretching 450 feet in length, has a storage capacity of 140 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 15 acres. Sikes Pond Dam holds a low hazard potential and has been assessed to be in fair condition as of its last inspection in March 2017.
Managed by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Sikes Pond Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state, ensuring its safety and compliance with regulations. Despite its moderate risk assessment, the dam has not required any emergency action plans or inundation maps prepared. With its location on Sikes Creek and the surrounding recreational opportunities, the dam serves as an important asset to the community while also contributing to the local water resource management and climate considerations.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Sikes Pond Dam presents an intriguing case study of a privately owned earth dam designed for recreation in South Carolina. Its structural features, storage capacity, and regulatory oversight offer valuable insights into the intersection of water management, dam safety, and environmental considerations. As stakeholders continue to monitor and manage the dam's risk profile, it remains a focal point for sustainable development and resilience in the face of changing climate patterns and water resource challenges.
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 Sikes Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wateree R. Bl Eastover | 2,400 cfs | → |
| Gills Creek At Columbia | 12 cfs | → |
| North Fork Edisto River At Orangeburg | 216 cfs | → |
| Congaree River At Columbia | 2,310 cfs | → |
| Smith Branch At North Main St At Columbia | 2 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Columbia | 840 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sikes Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Us 601 Calhoun County
- Shillings Bridge Road Orangeburg County
- Savannah Highway Neeses
- Landing Lane Calhoun County
- Coveside Circle 28, Calhoun County
- Palmetto Trail Lake Marion Passage Clarendon County
Track Sikes Pond 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 Sikes Pond Dam
Where does the data for Sikes Pond 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 Sikes Pond Dam.