Lake Wackendaw Dam dam
Lake Wackendaw Dam
Lake Wackendaw Dam in Charleston, South Carolina, stands as a crucial structure for irrigation and recreation purposes. Built in 1954, this private dam is primarily used for irrigation, with a normal storage capacity of 28 acre-feet and a total storage of 112 acre-feet. Spanning 445 feet in length and reaching a height of 9 feet, the dam controls the flow of the TR-Hobcaw Creek, contributing to the overall water management in the region.
Despite its significance, Lake Wackendaw Dam is facing challenges in terms of its condition assessment, marked as poor during the last inspection in November 2017. The hazard potential remains undetermined, underscoring the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance efforts. The dam's emergency action plan status, risk assessment, and risk management measures are also lacking, indicating the importance of implementing comprehensive strategies to ensure the safety and longevity of this essential water resource infrastructure.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to recognize the critical role Lake Wackendaw Dam plays in the local ecosystem and community. By addressing its current condition assessment and hazard potential, stakeholders can work towards safeguarding this vital water source for irrigation and recreation activities, while also considering the broader implications for water management and climate resilience in the region.
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 Lake Wackendaw Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Back River At Dupont Intake Nr Kittredge | 2,600 cfs | → |
| Lake Moultrie Tailrace Canal At Moncks Corner | 645 cfs | → |
| Edisto River Nr Givhans | 577 cfs | → |
| Santee River Nr Jamestown | 1,820 cfs | → |
| Turkey Creek Near Maryville | 0 cfs | → |
| Santee River Near Pineville | 603 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Wackendaw Dam.
Boat launches
- Simmons Street Mount Pleasant
- Three Gates Road Mount Pleasant
- Wappoo Cut Boat Ramp
- Paradise Island Public Boat Landing
- Bushy Park Boat Landing
- Folly River Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- James Island
- Foster Creek Rv Military
- Charleston Afb Rv Military
- Lake Aire Rv Park
- Halfway Creek Trail Camp
- Buck Hall Recreation Area
Fishing spots
Track Lake Wackendaw 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 Lake Wackendaw Dam
Where does the data for Lake Wackendaw 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 Undetermined 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 Lake Wackendaw Dam.