Elliott's Lake Dam dam
Elliott's Lake Dam
Elliott's Lake Dam in Sumter, South Carolina, stands as a vital structure under state jurisdiction, regulated by SC DHEC. Completed in 1930, this Earth dam serves multiple purposes, including recreation, with a primary height of 17 feet and a length of 1250 feet. The dam boasts a storage capacity of 230 acre-feet and a surface area of 45 acres, holding a low hazard potential but assessed with a poor condition in 2017.
Despite its age, Elliott's Lake Dam remains a crucial asset in the region, ensuring water resource management and recreational opportunities for visitors. The dam's uncontrolled spillway type and buttress core design contribute to its functionality, while its moderate risk assessment prompts attention for potential risk management measures. With a history rooted in providing essential services to the community, Elliott's Lake Dam continues to play a significant role in safeguarding the local environment and water resources.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts delve into the intricacies of Elliott's Lake Dam, its historical significance and current condition offer valuable insights into the intersection of infrastructure, regulation, and environmental stewardship. With periodic inspections and a five-year inspection frequency, the dam is closely monitored for safety and compliance, ensuring that it continues to serve its intended purposes effectively. As stakeholders work towards maintaining and enhancing the dam's functionality, Elliott's Lake Dam remains a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource management in South Carolina.
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 Elliott's Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wateree R. Bl Eastover | 2,400 cfs | → |
| Wateree River Nr. Camden | 3,960 cfs | → |
| Gills Creek At Columbia | 27 cfs | → |
| Lynches River Near Bishopville | 136 cfs | → |
| Congaree River At Columbia | 10,200 cfs | → |
| North Fork Edisto River At Orangeburg | 260 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Elliott's Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Us 601 Calhoun County
- Landing Lane Calhoun County
- Palmetto Trail Lake Marion Passage Clarendon County
- Coveside Circle 28, Calhoun County
- Boy Scout Circle Orangeburg County
- Santee Drive Orangeburg County
Campgrounds
- Poinsett State Park
- Falcons Nest Military - Shaw Afb
- Bluff Campground
- Longleaf Campground
- Weston Lake Military - Fort Jackson
- Santee State Park
Paddle runs
Track Elliott's 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 Elliott's Lake Dam
Where does the data for Elliott's 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 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 Elliott's Lake Dam.