Capers Millpond Dam dam
Capers Millpond Dam
Capers Millpond Dam, located in Aiken, South Carolina, was completed in 1931 and serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond, as well as recreation. The dam, primarily made of earth with stone core types and soil foundations, stands at a height of 16 feet and has a length of 600 feet, creating a reservoir with a normal storage capacity of 42 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 102 acre-feet. The dam is situated along Goodland Creek and is under the regulatory oversight of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).
Despite its historical significance and multifaceted utility, Capers Millpond Dam faces challenges related to its condition assessment, with a rating of poor and a high hazard potential. The last inspection in June 2019 revealed the need for improvements and maintenance to ensure the safety and functionality of the structure. With a frequency of inspections every two years, efforts are being made to address the dam's deficiencies and mitigate risks associated with its operation.
With its picturesque location and important role in water resource management, Capers Millpond Dam serves as a focal point for water and climate enthusiasts interested in the intersection of infrastructure, ecology, and public safety. As discussions continue around the future of the dam and potential risk management measures, stakeholders are working to balance the preservation of its historical value with the imperative to enhance its resilience and ensure the well-being of surrounding communities and ecosystems in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Capers Millpond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Edisto River Near Denmark | 222 cfs | → |
| South Fork Edisto River Near Cope | 225 cfs | → |
| Mctier Creek (Rd 209) Near Monetta | 1 cfs | → |
| South Fork Edisto River Near Bamberg | 225 cfs | → |
| North Fork Edisto River At Orangeburg | 226 cfs | → |
| Congaree River At Columbia | 2,320 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Capers Millpond Dam.
Boat launches
- Savannah Highway Neeses
- Shillings Bridge Road Orangeburg County
- Bobcat Landing Road , 29003
- Cannon Bridge Road ,
- Cabana Way Lexington County
- Sandlapper Way 159, Lexington County
Fishing spots
Track Capers Millpond 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 Capers Millpond Dam
Where does the data for Capers Millpond 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 Capers Millpond Dam.