Cola Plantation Dam dam
Cola Plantation Dam
Cola Plantation Dam, located in Clarendon, South Carolina, is a privately owned earth dam that was completed in 1960 with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam stands at 15 feet in height and spans 560 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 207 acre-feet. Situated on Chapel Creek, the dam is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and public safety.
Despite its fair condition assessment, Cola Plantation Dam is categorized as having a significant hazard potential, underscoring the importance of ongoing risk management measures. The dam's emergency action plan was last revised in 2012, and there is a need for updated inundation maps and risk assessments to better prepare for potential emergencies. With its proximity to the Charleston District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, stakeholders should work collaboratively to enhance the safety and sustainability of this vital water resource for the local community.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Cola Plantation Dam to be an intriguing case study in dam infrastructure management and the intersection of recreation, environmental regulation, and public safety. As climate change intensifies the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, the resilience of dams like Cola Plantation becomes increasingly important. By staying informed about the dam's condition, emergency preparedness, and risk management strategies, stakeholders can help ensure the long-term sustainability of this recreational asset while safeguarding the surrounding ecosystem and communities from potential hazards.
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 Cola Plantation Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wateree R. Bl Eastover | 2,400 cfs | → |
| Santee River Near Pineville | 629 cfs | → |
| North Fork Edisto River At Orangeburg | 302 cfs | → |
| Black River At Kingstree | 58 cfs | → |
| Lake Moultrie Tailrace Canal At Moncks Corner | 215 cfs | → |
| Gills Creek At Columbia | 18 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cola Plantation Dam.
Boat launches
- Palmetto Trail Lake Marion Passage Clarendon County
- Landing Lane Calhoun County
- Coveside Circle 28, Calhoun County
- Clarendon County
- Log Jam Road Clarendon County
- Boy Scout Circle Orangeburg County
Campgrounds
- Polly's Landing Campground
- Santee State Park
- Poinsett State Park
- Falcons Nest Military - Shaw Afb
- Bluff Campground
- Longleaf Campground
Fishing spots
Track Cola Plantation 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 Cola Plantation Dam
Where does the data for Cola Plantation 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 Significant 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 Cola Plantation Dam.