Upper Sunny Hill Pond Dam dam
Upper Sunny Hill Pond Dam
Upper Sunny Hill Pond Dam in Kershaw, South Carolina, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1969 for recreational purposes. Sitting on the TR-Wateree River, this dam stands at a height of 19 feet and stretches 290 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 174 acre-feet, it covers a surface area of 16 acres, providing a serene backdrop for outdoor activities.
Despite its recreational appeal, Upper Sunny Hill Pond Dam poses a high hazard potential and has been rated in poor condition during the last inspection in December 2020. The dam is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure public safety. With its location in a picturesque setting along the river, awareness of the dam's condition and maintenance needs are crucial for both water resource and climate enthusiasts who enjoy its surroundings.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts continue to appreciate the beauty of Upper Sunny Hill Pond Dam and its role in providing recreational opportunities, there is a growing need for ongoing risk assessment and management measures to address its high hazard potential and poor condition. With its proximity to the Wateree River, understanding the structural integrity and maintenance requirements of this dam is essential for preserving its recreational value while prioritizing safety for the surrounding community. As discussions on dam safety and maintenance evolve, stakeholders are encouraged to stay informed and engaged in efforts to ensure the long-term sustainability of this vital water resource feature.
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 Upper Sunny Hill Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wateree River Nr. Camden | 3,960 cfs | → |
| Lynches River Near Bishopville | 136 cfs | → |
| Rocky Creek At Great Falls | 270 cfs | → |
| Black Creek Near Hartsville | 46 cfs | → |
| Gills Creek At Columbia | 27 cfs | → |
| Fishing Creek Below Fort Lawn | 457 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Sunny Hill Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- West Dekalb Street Lugoff
- Buck Hill Landing Road Kershaw County
- Morning Sun Court 98, Richland County
- Lake Carolina Drive Richland County
- Green Road Lancaster County
Track Upper Sunny Hill 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 Upper Sunny Hill Pond Dam
Where does the data for Upper Sunny Hill 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 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 Upper Sunny Hill Pond Dam.