Kaiser Dam dam
Kaiser Dam
Kaiser Dam, located in York, South Carolina, stands as a testament to human ingenuity and resource management. Completed in 1955, this earth dam primarily serves as a recreational spot, offering visitors a chance to unwind and connect with nature. With a height of 29 feet and a length of 275 feet, Kaiser Dam boasts a storage capacity of 223 acre-feet, making it a crucial water resource for the surrounding area.
Despite its serene appearance, Kaiser Dam is not without its risks. Rated as having a high hazard potential, the dam requires regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity. The last inspection took place in March 2019, with a frequency of every two years. While the overall condition remains unrated, the dam's risk assessment is moderate, indicating the need for ongoing risk management measures to prevent any potential disasters.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Kaiser Dam offers a fascinating case study in balancing the benefits of recreation with the responsibilities of dam safety. As a privately owned structure regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Kaiser Dam symbolizes the delicate interplay between human needs and environmental stewardship. Its role in providing water storage, flood control, and recreational opportunities underscores the importance of sustainable management practices in safeguarding our natural resources for future generations.
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 Kaiser Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Catawba River Near Rockhill | 853 cfs | → |
| Mcalpine Cr Below Mcmullen Cr Nr Pineville | 7 cfs | → |
| Steele Creek At Sr1441 Nr Pineville | 1 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek At Nc 51 Near Pineville | 39 cfs | → |
| Little Sugar Creek At Pineville | 22 cfs | → |
| Wildcat Creek Below Rock Hill | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kaiser Dam.
Boat launches
- Piedmont Medical Center Trail York County
- New Gray Rock Road Tega Cay
- Waterford Trail Rock Hill
- Windward Drive Tega Cay
- Boatshore Road York County
- Catawba Nation Greenway Trail York County
Campgrounds
- Sign Language
- Ebenezer County Park
- Mcdowell Nature Preserve
- Andrew Jackson State Park
- Cane Creek Park
- Kings Mountain State Park
Track Kaiser 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 Kaiser Dam
Where does the data for Kaiser 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 Kaiser Dam.