Bigham Pond Dam dam
Bigham Pond Dam
Bigham Pond Dam, located in Lancaster, SC, is a privately owned structure designed by the USDA NRCS in 1979 for recreational purposes along the Tr- Waxhaw Creek. This earth dam stands at a height of 17 feet and spans 350 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 83 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam has a moderate risk assessment rating of 3 due to its uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates.
The dam is under the jurisdiction of the USDA NRCS, with no state regulatory agency overseeing its operations or inspections. While the condition assessment is currently not available, the dam's emergency action plan status is unknown, indicating a lack of preparedness in case of a potential failure. With a risk management plan yet to be outlined and no inundation maps prepared, there is room for improvement in ensuring the safety and stability of Bigham Pond Dam for both the surrounding community and the environment.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Bigham Pond Dam can appreciate its unique design by the USDA NRCS and its role in providing recreational opportunities in the Union County area of North Carolina. As efforts to enhance dam safety and emergency preparedness continue, stakeholders can monitor updates on the dam's condition assessment, risk management measures, and compliance with regulatory guidelines to ensure the long-term sustainability of this essential water resource infrastructure.
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 Bigham Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Waxhaw Creek At Sr1103 Near Jackson | 1 cfs | → |
| Catawba River Below Catawba | 956 cfs | → |
| Four Mile Creek Near Pineville | 4 cfs | → |
| Mcalpine Cr Below Mcmullen Cr Nr Pineville | 10 cfs | → |
| Catawba River Near Rockhill | 777 cfs | → |
| Little Sugar Creek At Pineville | 38 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bigham Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Catawba Nation Greenway Trail York County
- Waterford Trail Rock Hill
- Lancaster County
- Piedmont Medical Center Trail York County
- New Gray Rock Road Tega Cay
- Windward Drive Tega Cay
Campgrounds
- Cane Creek Park
- Andrew Jackson State Park
- Williams Farm
- Sign Language
- Ebenezer County Park
- Mcdowell Nature Preserve
Fishing spots
- Buck Branch
- Mountain Island Park Fishing Access
- Arrowhead Lake
- Blewett Falls Lake Grassy Island
- Pittman Lake
- Badin Lake Lakemont Rd
Track Bigham 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 Bigham Pond Dam
Where does the data for Bigham 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 Bigham Pond Dam.