Lower Deerfield Lake Dam dam
Lower Deerfield Lake Dam
Lower Deerfield Lake Dam, located in Sumter, South Carolina, was completed in 1960 and serves as a recreational spot for water and climate enthusiasts. The dam is privately owned and regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC). Standing at 14 feet high and 850 feet long, the dam holds a storage capacity of 63 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 33 acre-feet.
Despite its significance for recreation, Lower Deerfield Lake Dam has been assessed as being in poor condition, with a significant hazard potential. The last inspection in March 2019 highlighted the need for improvements and maintenance to ensure the dam's structural integrity and safety. The dam is subject to regular state inspections and enforcement measures to address any safety concerns and mitigate risks associated with its operation.
Ensuring the proper functioning and maintenance of Lower Deerfield Lake Dam is crucial to preserving its recreational value and safeguarding the surrounding environment. With a focus on risk assessment and management, as well as adherence to state regulations, efforts are ongoing to address the dam's poor condition and maximize its safety for visitors and the local community.
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 Lower Deerfield Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wateree R. Bl Eastover | 2,400 cfs | → |
| Lynches River Near Bishopville | 136 cfs | → |
| Wateree River Nr. Camden | 3,960 cfs | → |
| Gills Creek At Columbia | 27 cfs | → |
| Black Creek Near Hartsville | 46 cfs | → |
| Santee River Near Pineville | 662 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Deerfield Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Us 601 Calhoun County
- Palmetto Trail Lake Marion Passage Clarendon County
- Landing Lane Calhoun County
- West Dekalb Street Lugoff
- Coveside Circle 28, Calhoun County
- State Highway 260 Clarendon County
Track Lower Deerfield Lake 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 Lower Deerfield Lake Dam
Where does the data for Lower Deerfield Lake 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 Significant 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 Lower Deerfield Lake Dam.