John Ballentine Dam dam
John Ballentine Dam
John Ballentine Dam, located in Berkeley County, South Carolina, was completed in 1970 and stands at a height of 11 feet with a length of 720 feet. The primary purpose of this earth dam, with a buttress core type, is for recreation, offering a surface area of 28 acres and a storage capacity of 252 acre-feet. Situated on the TR-Wassamassa Swamp, this dam is under state regulation by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), ensuring regular inspections and enforcement of safety measures.
Despite its low hazard potential, John Ballentine Dam has been assessed to be in poor condition as of November 2017, highlighting the need for maintenance and potential upgrades. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with no outlet gates or associated structures. Although the risk assessment categorizes it as moderate, with a DSAC (Dam Safety Action Classification) assigned date not specified, there is room for improvement in risk management measures to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and the environment. With its picturesque location and recreational opportunities, John Ballentine Dam holds potential for further enhancement and sustainable management in line with evolving climate and water resource conservation practices.
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 John Ballentine Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Moultrie Tailrace Canal At Moncks Corner | 5 cfs | → |
| Back River At Dupont Intake Nr Kittredge | 3,700 cfs | → |
| Edisto River Nr Givhans | 464 cfs | → |
| Santee River Near Pineville | 618 cfs | → |
| Santee River Nr Jamestown | 1,570 cfs | → |
| Black River At Kingstree | 37 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near John Ballentine Dam.
Boat launches
- Hatchery Boat Ramp Lake Moultrie
- Ladson Road Summerville
- Bushy Park Boat Landing
- Russel Store Road Berkeley County
- State Highway 402 Berkeley County
- Red Bank Road 184, Orangeburg County
Campgrounds
- Short Stay Navy Military
- Givhans Ferry State Park
- Foster Creek Rv Military
- Charleston Afb Rv Military
- Lake Aire Rv Park
- Colleton State Park
Fishing spots
Track John Ballentine 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 John Ballentine Dam
Where does the data for John Ballentine 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 John Ballentine Dam.