Ray Campbell Dam dam
Ray Campbell Dam
Ray Campbell Dam, located in Aiken, South Carolina, is a privately owned structure built in 1968 primarily for recreational purposes along Town Creek. Standing at a height of 19 feet and spanning 735 feet in length, this earth dam holds a storage capacity of 206 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 86 acre-feet. Despite its age, the dam is still in use and is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) for permitting, inspection, and enforcement.
With a high hazard potential and poor condition assessment as of the last inspection in 2017, Ray Campbell Dam poses a potential risk to the surrounding area in case of failure. It is crucial for the owners and regulators to ensure that proper maintenance and risk management measures are in place to mitigate any potential threats. The dam lacks emergency action plans and inundation maps, highlighting the need for improved preparedness and response strategies in case of emergencies.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Ray Campbell Dam serves as a significant structure in the local landscape, providing both recreational opportunities and posing challenges in terms of safety and risk management. As a privately owned dam regulated by state authorities, it exemplifies the importance of maintaining and monitoring aging infrastructure to ensure the safety of communities and the environment. Efforts to enhance emergency preparedness and address the dam's poor condition assessment are crucial steps towards safeguarding both the dam itself and the downstream areas it serves.
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 Ray Campbell Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Savannah River At Augusta | 3,780 cfs | → |
| Augusta Canal Nr Augusta (Upper) | 2,240 cfs | → |
| Butler Creek Below 7th Avenue | 8 cfs | → |
| Spirit Creek At Us 1 | 9 cfs | → |
| Brier Creek Near Waynesboro | 92 cfs | → |
| Mctier Creek (Rd 209) Near Monetta | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ray Campbell Dam.
Boat launches
- Burnettown
- Mccormick County
- Columbia County
- Saint John's Road, Clarks Hill
- Lake Springs Road Columbia County
Campgrounds
- Aiken State Park
- Lick Fork Lake Recreation Area
- Lake Leitner Military
- Lick Fork Lake
- Barnwell State Park
- Petersburg - Strom Thurmond Lake
Fishing spots
Track Ray Campbell 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 Ray Campbell Dam
Where does the data for Ray Campbell 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 Ray Campbell Dam.