Peter Buyck's House Pond Dam dam
Peter Buyck's House Pond Dam
Peter Buyck's House Pond Dam, located in Calhoun, South Carolina, serves as a recreational spot for enthusiasts of water resources and climate. Built in 1960, this earth dam stands at 16 feet high and stretches 320 feet in length, with a maximum storage capacity of 45 acre-feet. Despite its primary purpose for recreation, the dam poses a high hazard potential and is currently assessed to be in poor condition as of February 2021.
Managed by a private owner, the dam falls under the jurisdiction of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC) and undergoes regular inspections every two years. With a spillway width of 0 feet and a surface area of 7 acres, the dam holds a significant amount of water from the TR-BATES MILL CREEK. The dam's location on private property raises concerns about its regulatory oversight and emergency preparedness protocols, as its Emergency Action Plan (EAP) status and risk assessment measures remain unclear.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Peter Buyck's House Pond Dam offers a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of recreational infrastructure and environmental stewardship. With a rich history dating back to the 1960s, the dam presents a case study in the challenges of maintaining aging earth structures in a high-hazard setting. As discussions around dam safety and risk mitigation continue to evolve, this site serves as a reminder of the importance of proactive maintenance and emergency planning in safeguarding our water resources for future generations.
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 Peter Buyck's House Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wateree R. Bl Eastover | 2,400 cfs | → |
| North Fork Edisto River At Orangeburg | 216 cfs | → |
| Gills Creek At Columbia | 12 cfs | → |
| Congaree River At Columbia | 2,310 cfs | → |
| Smith Branch At North Main St At Columbia | 2 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Columbia | 840 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Peter Buyck's House Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Us 601 Calhoun County
- Shillings Bridge Road Orangeburg County
- Landing Lane Calhoun County
- Coveside Circle 28, Calhoun County
- Savannah Highway Neeses
- Palmetto Trail Lake Marion Passage Clarendon County
Track Peter Buyck's House 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 Peter Buyck's House Pond Dam
Where does the data for Peter Buyck's House 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 Peter Buyck's House Pond Dam.