Walden Place Pond Dam dam
Walden Place Pond Dam
Walden Place Pond Dam, located in Richland, South Carolina, is a privately owned structure that serves primarily for recreational purposes. Built in 1950, this earth dam stands at a height of 23 feet and stretches 850 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 280 acre-feet, the dam provides a serene 18-acre surface area for activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife observation along Spears Creek.
Despite its recreational appeal, Walden Place Pond Dam poses a high hazard potential due to its poor condition assessment as of April 2015. With a history dating back to 1981, the dam lacks an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) update and has not undergone recent risk assessments or management measures. The dam's inspection frequency is set at every two years, indicating a need for regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and the preservation of the dam's functionality.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the condition of Walden Place Pond Dam highlights the importance of proper dam management and maintenance to mitigate potential risks and safeguard the environment. With its picturesque setting and recreational opportunities, this dam serves as a reminder of the crucial balance between enjoying natural resources and responsibly managing infrastructure to protect both people and the ecosystem.
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 Walden Place Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Gills Creek At Columbia | 27 cfs | → |
| Smith Branch At North Main St At Columbia | 4 cfs | → |
| Wateree River Nr. Camden | 3,960 cfs | → |
| Congaree River At Columbia | 10,200 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Columbia | 2,670 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Below Lk Murray Dam Nr Columbia | 770 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Walden Place Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Morning Sun Court 98, Richland County
- Lake Carolina Drive Richland County
- West Dekalb Street Lugoff
- Buck Hill Landing Road Kershaw County
- Highway 6 6, Columbia
- Us 601 Calhoun County
Track Walden Place 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 Walden Place Pond Dam
Where does the data for Walden Place 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 High 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 Walden Place Pond Dam.