Sudlow Lake Dam dam
Sudlow Lake Dam
Sudlow Lake Dam, located in Aiken, South Carolina, was completed in 1915 and serves as a vital structure for recreational purposes. With a height of 23 feet and a length of 630 feet, the dam holds a maximum storage capacity of 333 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 37 acres. The dam is primarily made of earth and stone, with foundations composed of rock and soil, making it a crucial asset for water resource management in the region.
Despite its historical significance, Sudlow Lake Dam faces challenges in terms of its condition assessment, which was rated as poor during the last inspection in February 2019. Classified with a high hazard potential, the dam requires immediate attention to ensure public safety and environmental protection. The dam is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), with regular inspections and enforcement measures in place to monitor its structural integrity.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate change should take note of Sudlow Lake Dam as a key component of the region's infrastructure. Its importance for recreational activities, as well as its critical role in water storage and management, highlight the need for ongoing maintenance and risk assessment to safeguard against potential hazards. As climate patterns continue to shift, the resilience and sustainability of dams like Sudlow Lake Dam will become increasingly crucial in ensuring the safety and well-being of local communities and ecosystems.
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 Sudlow Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Augusta Canal Nr Augusta (Upper) | 1,670 cfs | → |
| Savannah River At Augusta | 4,870 cfs | → |
| Butler Creek Below 7th Avenue | 50 cfs | → |
| Spirit Creek At Us 1 | 33 cfs | → |
| Stevens Creek Near Modoc | 585 cfs | → |
| Mctier Creek (Rd 209) Near Monetta | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sudlow Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Burnettown
- Mccormick County
- Columbia County
- Saint John's Road, Clarks Hill
- Lake Springs Road Columbia County
- Ridge Road 5943, Columbia County
Campgrounds
- Lick Fork Lake Recreation Area
- Lick Fork Lake
- Modoc - Strom Thurmond Lake
- Aiken State Park
- Petersburg - Strom Thurmond Lake
- Hamilton Branch State Park
Fishing spots
Track Sudlow Lake 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 Sudlow Lake Dam
Where does the data for Sudlow Lake 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 Sudlow Lake Dam.