Ponderosa Pond Dam dam
Ponderosa Pond Dam
Ponderosa Pond Dam, also known as Ponderosa Country Club Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Saluda, South Carolina. Built in 1958, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 31 feet and spans 550 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 182 acre-feet. The primary purpose of this dam is for recreation, offering a serene environment for water enthusiasts to enjoy activities such as fishing and boating.
Despite its recreational appeal, Ponderosa Pond Dam has a high hazard potential and a poor condition assessment as of the last inspection in October 2017. This raises concerns about the safety and stability of the structure, prompting the need for regular inspections and potential risk management measures. The State of South Carolina, through DHEC, regulates and inspects the dam to ensure compliance with safety standards and to mitigate any potential risks to the surrounding community.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the details and condition of dams like Ponderosa Pond Dam is crucial for assessing their impact on the environment and local communities. By staying informed about the maintenance and safety of such structures, we can contribute to the preservation of water resources and the mitigation of potential hazards in our changing climate.
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 Ponderosa Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mctier Creek (Rd 209) Near Monetta | 7 cfs | → |
| Bush River Nr Prosperity | 169 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Below Lk Murray Dam Nr Columbia | 764 cfs | → |
| Little River Nr Silverstreet | 231 cfs | → |
| Saluda River At Chappells | 4,110 cfs | → |
| Broad River At Alston | 3,640 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ponderosa Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- 844 Riverbend Point, Leesville, Sc 29070
- Sandlapper Way 159, Lexington County
- Cabana Way Lexington County
- Eastshore Drive 143, Lexington County
- Sassafras Lane Newberry County
- Shull Island Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Dreher Island State Rec Area
- Woodmen Of The World Park
- Boggy Campground
- Faulkner Mountain Campground
- Aiken State Park
- Lake Greenwood State Park
Fishing spots
Track Ponderosa 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 Ponderosa Pond Dam
Where does the data for Ponderosa 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 High 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 Ponderosa Pond Dam.