Ford Pond Dam dam
Ford Pond Dam
Ford Pond Dam, also known as Barbara Ford Quinn Dam, is a privately owned structure located in York, South Carolina. Completed in 1960, this earth dam stands at a height of 25 feet and stretches 610 feet in length. Its primary purpose is for recreation, offering a surface area of 16 acres and a storage capacity of 163 acre-feet.
Despite its low hazard potential, Ford Pond Dam has been assessed as being in poor condition as of August 2017. The dam is state-regulated and subject to regular inspections, with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control overseeing its enforcement and permitting. The dam poses a moderate risk, with no emergency action plan in place as of the latest data update in April 2021.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the management and maintenance of dams will find Ford Pond Dam an intriguing case study. With its unique design features and historical significance, this dam serves as a focal point for understanding the complexities of ensuring public safety and environmental protection in the face of changing climatic conditions.
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 Ford Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Beaverdam Creek Ab Windy Gap Road Nr Shopton | 0 cfs | → |
| Steele Creek At Sr1441 Nr Pineville | 1 cfs | → |
| Coffey Creek Nr Charlotte | 2 cfs | → |
| Catawba River Near Rockhill | 853 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek At Nc 51 Near Pineville | 39 cfs | → |
| Paw Cr At Wilkinson Blvd Nr Charlotte | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ford Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Copperhead Island Mecklenburg County
- Soldier Road 15299, Mecklenburg County
- Boatshore Road York County
- Windward Drive Tega Cay
- New Gray Rock Road Tega Cay
- Piedmont Medical Center Trail York County
Campgrounds
- Mcdowell Nature Preserve
- Ebenezer County Park
- Sign Language
- Kings Mountain State Park
- Hounds Gateway Campground
- Garner Creek
Track Ford 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 Ford Pond Dam
Where does the data for Ford 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 Ford Pond Dam.