Arthur Keels Dam dam
Arthur Keels Dam
Arthur Keels Dam, located in Richland, South Carolina, is a privately owned earth dam standing at 26 feet high and spanning 350 feet in length. Built in 1968, this dam serves a primary purpose of recreation, offering a surface area of 10 acres for water enthusiasts to enjoy. With a storage capacity of 106 acre-feet, the dam is primarily regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC) and is subject to regular inspections and enforcement measures to ensure public safety.
Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2017 revealed poor structural integrity, prompting a moderate risk assessment rating of 3. With a history of modifications unknown, the dam poses a potential risk to downstream areas in the event of a failure. Emergency action plans and risk management measures are yet to be fully developed, raising concerns for the safety of surrounding communities. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is crucial to monitor and advocate for the necessary improvements to ensure the long-term resilience and safety of Arthur Keels Dam and its associated structures.
As a focal point for recreation and water storage in the area, Arthur Keels Dam plays a vital role in the local ecosystem and economy. With its close proximity to the TR-Harmon Creek, efforts to address the dam's poor condition and develop comprehensive emergency response plans are essential for sustainable water resource management and climate adaptation. By engaging with regulatory agencies and stakeholders, there is an opportunity to enhance the dam's safety measures, minimize risks, and safeguard the surrounding environment for future generations of water and climate enthusiasts to enjoy.
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 Arthur Keels Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Smith Branch At North Main St At Columbia | 2 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Columbia | 2,620 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Below Lk Murray Dam Nr Columbia | 2,400 cfs | → |
| Congaree River At Columbia | 9,260 cfs | → |
| Gills Creek At Columbia | 44 cfs | → |
| Broad River At Alston | 4,010 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Arthur Keels Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Carolina Drive Richland County
- Morning Sun Court 98, Richland County
- Highway 6 6, Columbia
- Cove Launch Court Lexington County
- Broad River Road Newberry County
- Shull Island Boat Ramp
Track Arthur Keels 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 Arthur Keels Dam
Where does the data for Arthur Keels 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 Arthur Keels Dam.