Ruesch Pond Dam dam
Ruesch Pond Dam
Ruesch Pond Dam in Orangeburg, South Carolina, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1962 for recreational purposes. Standing at a height of 14 feet and a length of 490 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 317 acre-feet and a surface area of 39 acres. It is situated on the Middle Pen Swamp, overseen by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) for regulation, inspection, and enforcement.
Despite its intended use for recreation, Ruesch Pond Dam poses a high hazard potential and is currently in poor condition, as assessed in February 2021. The dam is subject to biennial inspections, with the last one conducted in February 2021. The emergency action plan (EAP) for the dam was last revised in April 2015, with no updates on its adherence to guidelines or preparedness for potential risks. The dam is not under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with no associated federal agency involvement in its ownership, funding, design, construction, or regulatory aspects.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Ruesch Pond Dam can appreciate its historical significance as a recreational structure in South Carolina. However, the dam's current state of disrepair and high hazard potential highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring, maintenance, and adherence to safety guidelines. As climate change impacts continue to affect water resources, addressing the safety and structural integrity of dams like Ruesch Pond Dam becomes crucial for protecting surrounding 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 Ruesch Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Fork Edisto River At Orangeburg | 226 cfs | → |
| South Fork Edisto River Near Bamberg | 225 cfs | → |
| South Fork Edisto River Near Cope | 225 cfs | → |
| South Fork Edisto River Near Denmark | 222 cfs | → |
| Wateree R. Bl Eastover | 2,400 cfs | → |
| Salkehatchie River Near Miley | 70 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ruesch Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Shillings Bridge Road Orangeburg County
- Cannon Bridge Road ,
- Bobcat Landing Road , 29003
- Landing Lane Calhoun County
- Coveside Circle 28, Calhoun County
- Boy Scout Circle Orangeburg County
Campgrounds
- Santee State Park
- Polly's Landing Campground
- Bluff Campground
- Longleaf Campground
- Poinsett State Park
- Colleton State Park
Paddle runs
Track Ruesch 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 Ruesch Pond Dam
Where does the data for Ruesch 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 Ruesch Pond Dam.