Thornley Pond Dam dam
Thornley Pond Dam
Thornley Pond Dam, located in Berkeley County, South Carolina, was completed in 1940 and serves primarily for recreational purposes. This earth dam, with a height of 14 feet and a length of 775 feet, has a storage capacity of 156 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 20 acres. Despite being privately owned, the dam is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
The dam poses a high hazard potential due to its condition being assessed as fair during the last inspection in March 2020. With an inspection frequency of every two years, efforts are being made to maintain the dam's integrity and address any potential risks. Although no emergency action plan (EAP) or guidelines for inundation maps have been prepared, the dam remains under the jurisdiction of the state and is subject to enforcement and oversight by the regulatory agency.
Situated on the TR-West Branch Cooper River, Thornley Pond Dam contributes to the local ecosystem and provides opportunities for outdoor recreation. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is important to monitor and support the maintenance of such infrastructure to ensure the safety of communities and the preservation of the natural environment.
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 Thornley Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Moultrie Tailrace Canal At Moncks Corner | 270 cfs | → |
| Back River At Dupont Intake Nr Kittredge | 671 cfs | → |
| Santee River Near Pineville | 680 cfs | → |
| Santee River Nr Jamestown | 6,660 cfs | → |
| Edisto River Nr Givhans | 2,010 cfs | → |
| Black River At Kingstree | 338 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Thornley Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Hatchery Boat Ramp Lake Moultrie
- Russel Store Road Berkeley County
- State Highway 402 Berkeley County
- Bushy Park Boat Landing
- Williamsburg County
- Ladson Road Summerville
Campgrounds
- Short Stay Navy Military
- Foster Creek Rv Military
- Halfway Creek Trail Camp
- Charleston Afb Rv Military
- Guilliard Lake
- Givhans Ferry State Park
Fishing spots
Track Thornley 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 Thornley Pond Dam
Where does the data for Thornley 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 Thornley Pond Dam.