West Virginia Company Dam dam
West Virginia Company Dam
West Virginia Company Dam, located in Charleston, South Carolina, was completed in 1968 for the primary purpose of recreation. This privately owned earth dam stands at a height of 12 feet and spans a length of 240 feet, with a storage capacity of 224 acre-feet. Situated on TR-MELLICHAMP BRANCH, the dam is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and undergoes regular inspections to ensure compliance with state regulations.
Despite its low hazard potential, the dam has been assessed as unsatisfactory in its condition as of November 2017. With a inspection frequency of every 5 years, the dam's emergency action plan (EAP) status and risk management measures remain unclear. The surrounding area covers a surface area of 32 acres, providing recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the maintenance and regulatory processes for dams like West Virginia Company Dam is crucial in ensuring public safety and environmental protection in the face of changing weather patterns and water levels.
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 West Virginia Company Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Edisto River Nr Givhans | 477 cfs | → |
| Back River At Dupont Intake Nr Kittredge | 3,700 cfs | → |
| Lake Moultrie Tailrace Canal At Moncks Corner | 856 cfs | → |
| Salkehatchie River Near Miley | 60 cfs | → |
| Santee River Near Pineville | 602 cfs | → |
| Coosawhatchie River Near Hampton | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near West Virginia Company Dam.
Boat launches
- Steamboat Landing
- Ladson Road Summerville
- Bennetts Point Road Colleton County
- Sol Legare Public Boat Landing
- Live Oak Boat Landing
- Wappoo Cut Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Four Poles Park Dock
- Fishing From Bonito Bridge
- Gator Pond
- Willow Hall Pond
- Lower Nebo Pond
- Upper Nebo Pond
Track West Virginia Company 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 West Virginia Company Dam
Where does the data for West Virginia Company 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 West Virginia Company Dam.