Colonial Lake Dam dam
Colonial Lake Dam
Colonial Lake Dam, located in Kershaw, South Carolina, is a historic structure completed in 1873. This private-owned dam stands at 17 feet tall and has a length of 640 feet, impounding Sanders Creek to create a surface area of 70 acres. With a storage capacity of 680 acre-feet, the dam serves purposes such as recreation, reflecting its primary use as "Other". Despite the dam's fair condition assessment, it has a high hazard potential, requiring regular inspections every two years to ensure its safety.
Managed by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC), Colonial Lake Dam plays a crucial role in the local water resource management. It is regulated by the state, with permitting, inspection, and enforcement measures in place to maintain its integrity. The dam's emergency action plan (EAP) status and risk assessment are currently undisclosed, hinting at potential future evaluations to enhance its safety protocols and ensure the protection of surrounding communities and ecosystems.
As a part of the Savannah District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Colonial Lake Dam stands as a key landmark in the region, drawing attention to the intersection of historical preservation, water resource management, and climate resilience. Despite its age, the dam continues to provide essential functions while facing the challenges of aging infrastructure and heightened hazard potential. Its significance lies not only in its structural presence but also in the ongoing efforts to safeguard its operation and mitigate risks through effective monitoring and management practices.
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 Colonial Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wateree River Nr. Camden | 3,960 cfs | → |
| Lynches River Near Bishopville | 136 cfs | → |
| Rocky Creek At Great Falls | 270 cfs | → |
| Black Creek Near Hartsville | 46 cfs | → |
| Black Creek Near Mcbee | 43 cfs | → |
| Fishing Creek Below Fort Lawn | 457 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Colonial Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- West Dekalb Street Lugoff
- Buck Hill Landing Road Kershaw County
- Morning Sun Court 98, Richland County
- Lake Carolina Drive Richland County
- Green Road Lancaster County
- Lancaster County
Track Colonial 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 Colonial Lake Dam
Where does the data for Colonial 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 Colonial Lake Dam.