Ragsdale Pond Dam dam
Ragsdale Pond Dam
Ragsdale Pond Dam, also known as Jane Hamby Dam, is a privately owned earth dam located in Pickens, South Carolina. Completed in 1960, this dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, with a height of 20 feet and a length of 165 feet. It impounds Eighteenmile Creek, providing a surface area of 5 acres and a storage capacity of 64 acre-feet.
Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is rated as poor, indicating a need for maintenance and potential improvements. The last inspection in June 2017 highlighted this concern, with a moderate risk level assigned to the structure. While the dam is state-regulated and monitored by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, the lack of recent updates on emergency action plans and risk management measures raises some red flags for water resource and climate enthusiasts.
As an enthusiast interested in water resource management and climate resilience, the case of Ragsdale Pond Dam presents an intriguing study on the intersection of recreational infrastructure and environmental stewardship. The balance between public enjoyment and safety considerations, coupled with the need for regular monitoring and maintenance, underscores the challenges faced in preserving our water resources for future generations. The dam's location within the Savannah District of the US Army Corps of Engineers adds another layer of complexity to its management, making it a compelling subject for further research and analysis in the realm of water resource sustainability.
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 Ragsdale Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Twelvemile Creek Near Liberty | 156 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Greenville | 473 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Williamston | 665 cfs | → |
| Reedy River Near Greenville | 72 cfs | → |
| South Saluda River Near Cleveland | 12 cfs | → |
| Brushy Creek Near Greenville | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ragsdale Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Buckskin Road Pickens County
- Crow Creek Access Road Pickens County
- High Falls Road Oconee County
- Arden Road Greenville County
- Denver Road Anderson County
- Fall Creek Landing
Campgrounds
- Mile Creek County Park
- Twin Lakes - Hartwell Lake
- High Falls County Park
- Keowee - Toxaway State Natural Area
- Table Rock State Park
- Oconee Point - Hartwell Lake
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters Just East Of Hwy 107 To Crossing Of Norton Field Road (Fs 715a)
- Beginning Just Upstream Of Townes Creek,Wash Branch And Crane Creek To Confluence With Kings Creek
- Sloan's Bridge Crossing To 1/4 Mile Above The Walhalla Fish Hatchery
- Headwaters To Sloan's Bridge Crossing, Crossing Of Sc 107
- 1/4 Mile Above The Walhalla Fish Hatchery To 1/4 Mile Below The Walhalla Fish Hatchery
- 1/4 Mile Below Walhalla Fish Hatchery To Boundary Of Chattooga Wsr
Track Ragsdale 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 Ragsdale Pond Dam
Where does the data for Ragsdale 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 Ragsdale Pond Dam.