Bill Besson Dam dam
Bill Besson Dam
Bill Besson Dam, located in Edgefield, South Carolina, was completed in 1997 and serves as a crucial recreational site in the area. Standing at 23 feet tall and spanning 550 feet in length, this earth dam on Bell Branch offers a storage capacity of 125 acre-feet. With a maximum storage capacity of 125 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 75 acre-feet, the dam provides essential water resource management for the region.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Bill Besson Dam is subject to regular inspections to ensure its fair condition and safety. The dam is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to maintain its integrity. The risk assessment for this dam is rated as very high, emphasizing the importance of proper risk management measures to safeguard the surrounding community and environment.
Bill Besson Dam is a significant structure in the region, offering both recreational opportunities and water resource management. With its controlled spillway and fair condition, the dam continues to play a vital role in supporting the local ecosystem while providing a safe haven for outdoor enthusiasts. As climate change impacts water resources, the maintenance and regulation of dams like Bill Besson become increasingly important in ensuring water security for communities in South Carolina.
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 Bill Besson Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Greenwood Tailrace Nr Chappells | 4,260 cfs | → |
| Stevens Creek Near Modoc | 1,880 cfs | → |
| Saluda River At Chappells | 4,350 cfs | → |
| Little River Nr Silverstreet | 248 cfs | → |
| Augusta Canal Nr Augusta (Upper) | 832 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Mt. Carmel | 3,010 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bill Besson Dam.
Boat launches
- Lakeview Drive Parksville
- Dordon Creek Boat Ramp
- Arrowhead Drive Greenwood County
- Mccormick County
- Bakers Creek Boat Ramp
- Baker Creek Ramp Drive Mccormick County
Campgrounds
- Faulkner Mountain Campground
- Boggy Campground
- Lick Fork Lake
- Lick Fork Lake Recreation Area
- Hamilton Branch State Park
- Clarks Hill Military
Fishing spots
- Lick Fork Lake
- Parsons Mountain Lake
- J. Strom Thurmond Reservoir
- Cherokee Creek
- Cliatt Creek
- Lake Olmstead
Track Bill Besson 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 Bill Besson Dam
Where does the data for Bill Besson 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 Bill Besson Dam.