Lower Santee Shores Dam dam
Lower Santee Shores Dam
Located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, the Lower Santee Shores Dam, also known as Santee Shores, is a privately owned earth dam designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1964. The dam stands at a height of 23 feet and spans 434 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 110 acre-feet for recreational purposes along Chapel Branch. It is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and has a high hazard potential with a fair condition assessment as of January 2021.
The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with a surface area of 10 acres and a normal storage capacity of 58 acre-feet. Despite its moderate risk assessment rating, the dam has not undergone recent modifications and is inspected biennially to ensure its structural integrity. The emergency action plan (EAP) status for the dam is unclear, and there are no specific risk management measures in place. The Lower Santee Shores Dam serves as a vital recreational resource for the local community while requiring ongoing monitoring and maintenance to mitigate potential hazards.
With the oversight of the South Carolina DHEC and the Charleston District of the USACE, the Lower Santee Shores Dam remains a notable landmark in the region, attracting water resource and climate enthusiasts alike. As efforts continue to uphold its safety and functionality, the dam stands as a testament to the importance of proper management and maintenance of critical infrastructure in ensuring the well-being of surrounding communities and the preservation of 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 Lower Santee Shores Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Santee River Near Pineville | 619 cfs | → |
| North Fork Edisto River At Orangeburg | 226 cfs | → |
| Wateree R. Bl Eastover | 2,400 cfs | → |
| Edisto River Nr Givhans | 504 cfs | → |
| South Fork Edisto River Near Bamberg | 225 cfs | → |
| South Fork Edisto River Near Cope | 225 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Santee Shores Dam.
Boat launches
- Santee Drive Orangeburg County
- Boy Scout Circle Orangeburg County
- Coveside Circle 28, Calhoun County
- Palmetto Trail Lake Marion Passage Clarendon County
- Landing Lane Calhoun County
- Red Bank Road 184, Orangeburg County
Campgrounds
- Santee State Park
- Polly's Landing Campground
- Poinsett State Park
- Bluff Campground
- Colleton State Park
- Longleaf Campground
Fishing spots
Track Lower Santee Shores 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 Lower Santee Shores Dam
Where does the data for Lower Santee Shores 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 Lower Santee Shores Dam.