Lake Satoko Dam dam
Lake Satoko Dam
Lake Satoko Dam, located in Berkeley, South Carolina, was completed in 1973 with a primary purpose of recreation. This private dam stands at a height of 15.8 feet and has a storage capacity of 528 acre-feet, providing a serene 36.6-acre surface area for water enthusiasts to enjoy. Despite its scenic beauty, the dam is classified with a high hazard potential and a poor condition assessment, raising concerns for its structural integrity and safety.
Owned privately, Lake Satoko Dam is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement processes in place. The dam's poor condition as of the most recent inspection in October 2020 highlights the need for maintenance and potential risk management measures to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and environment. With its location on the Poplar Branch river, the dam serves as a crucial recreational spot while also posing challenges that necessitate careful monitoring and action to mitigate 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 Lake Satoko Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Back River At Dupont Intake Nr Kittredge | 3,910 cfs | → |
| Lake Moultrie Tailrace Canal At Moncks Corner | 4,530 cfs | → |
| Edisto River Nr Givhans | 504 cfs | → |
| Santee River Near Pineville | 619 cfs | → |
| Santee River Nr Jamestown | 2,050 cfs | → |
| Black River At Kingstree | 41 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Satoko Dam.
Boat launches
- Ladson Road Summerville
- Hatchery Boat Ramp Lake Moultrie
- Bushy Park Boat Landing
- State Highway 402 Berkeley County
- Russel Store Road Berkeley County
- Paradise Island Public Boat Landing
Campgrounds
- Foster Creek Rv Military
- Short Stay Navy Military
- Charleston Afb Rv Military
- Givhans Ferry State Park
- Lake Aire Rv Park
- Halfway Creek Trail Camp
Fishing spots
Track Lake Satoko 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 Lake Satoko Dam
Where does the data for Lake Satoko 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 Lake Satoko Dam.