Cain Pond Dam dam
Cain Pond Dam
Located in Sumter, South Carolina, Cain Pond Dam is a private-owned structure that serves as a recreational area for water resource and climate enthusiasts. Built in 1930, this earth dam stands at a height of 12 feet and stretches over a length of 740 feet, providing storage for up to 62 acre-feet of water. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is currently in poor condition, as assessed in April 2017.
Managed by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC), Cain Pond Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state, ensuring its safety and compliance with regulations. Although lacking in some structural information, such as the spillway type and discharge capacity, the dam remains a vital recreational asset in the area, offering a surface area of 10 acres for outdoor activities and enjoyment. With its historical significance and natural surroundings, Cain Pond Dam continues to attract visitors seeking a serene and picturesque setting for water-related adventures.
With its tranquil setting along the TR-Brunson Swamp, Cain Pond Dam presents an opportunity for visitors to appreciate the beauty of nature while engaging in recreational pursuits. Despite its aging infrastructure and the need for maintenance, the dam remains a notable landmark in the region, inviting water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore its historical significance and environmental impact. As efforts are made to improve its condition and ensure its longevity, Cain Pond Dam stands as a testament to the intersection of human intervention and natural landscapes, creating a unique and engaging experience for all who visit.
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 Cain Pond 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 | → |
| Santee River Near Pineville | 662 cfs | → |
| North Fork Edisto River At Orangeburg | 260 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cain Pond 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
- Santee State Park
- Polly's Landing Campground
Paddle runs
Track Cain 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 Cain Pond Dam
Where does the data for Cain 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 Cain Pond Dam.