Joe Ben Hunter Dam dam
Joe Ben Hunter Dam
Joe Ben Hunter Dam, located in Laurens, South Carolina, is a privately owned earth dam built in 1970 primarily for recreational purposes. Standing at 26 feet tall and spanning 290 feet in length, the dam has a storage capacity of 137 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 9 acres. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is currently assessed to be in poor condition as of September 2017.
Managed by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Joe Ben Hunter Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state agencies to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. The dam is situated on the TR-Warrior Creek and falls under the jurisdiction of the Charleston District of the US Army Corps of Engineers. Although the dam does not have any associated structures or federal funding, it plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities for water resource and climate enthusiasts in the surrounding area.
While Joe Ben Hunter Dam may face challenges in terms of its condition assessment, the dam continues to serve as a valuable recreational resource for the community. As water resource and climate enthusiasts explore the dam's surroundings, they can appreciate the efforts taken by state agencies to maintain its safety and regulatory compliance, ensuring that the dam remains a safe and enjoyable destination for all.
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 Joe Ben Hunter Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Enoree River Near Woodruff | 111 cfs | → |
| South Rabon Creek Near Gray Court | 6 cfs | → |
| Durbin Creek Above Fountain Inn | 5 cfs | → |
| Reedy River Above Fork Shoals | 78 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Ware Shoals | 231 cfs | → |
| Enoree River At Pelham | 48 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Joe Ben Hunter Dam.
Boat launches
- Garlington Drive Laurens County
- Berry Shoals Road 370, Spartanburg County
- Arden Road Greenville County
- Arrowhead Drive Greenwood County
- J. Verne Smith Park (Lake Robinson)
Campgrounds
- Sedalia Campground
- Sedalia
- Croft State Natural Area
- Brick House
- Brick House Campground
- Paris Mountain State Park
Fishing spots
Track Joe Ben Hunter 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 Joe Ben Hunter Dam
Where does the data for Joe Ben Hunter 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 Joe Ben Hunter Dam.