Kilgus Dam dam
Kilgus Dam
Kilgus Dam, located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, is a private earth dam primarily used for recreational purposes. Standing at a height of 15 feet and stretching 335 feet in length, the dam has a storage capacity of 66 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 8 acres. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is rated as poor, indicating a need for maintenance and improvements.
The dam on the TR-ROBERTS SWAMP river/stream is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and undergoes regular inspections. While its risk assessment is moderate, with a rating of 3, the dam has not been modified in recent years and lacks certain emergency preparedness measures, such as an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and updated inundation maps. With the last inspection conducted in July 2017, there is a call for increased attention to the maintenance and safety of Kilgus Dam to ensure its continued functionality and protection of surrounding areas from potential risks.
Owned by a private entity, Kilgus Dam serves as a popular spot for recreational activities in the region, attracting visitors for fishing, boating, and other outdoor pursuits. As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the importance of maintaining and improving dams like Kilgus for both recreational and safety purposes becomes increasingly evident. With proper management and investment in necessary upgrades, Kilgus Dam can continue to provide valuable benefits to the community while mitigating risks associated with its condition and potential hazards.
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 Kilgus Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Edisto River Near Cope | 217 cfs | → |
| South Fork Edisto River Near Denmark | 214 cfs | → |
| South Fork Edisto River Near Bamberg | 215 cfs | → |
| North Fork Edisto River At Orangeburg | 222 cfs | → |
| Salkehatchie River Near Miley | 60 cfs | → |
| Wateree R. Bl Eastover | 2,400 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kilgus Dam.
Track Kilgus 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 Kilgus Dam
Where does the data for Kilgus 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 Kilgus Dam.