A C Thomas Dam dam
A C Thomas Dam
A C Thomas Dam, located in Hampton, South Carolina, is a privately owned earth dam constructed in 1960 for recreational purposes on the TR-SALKEHATCHIE RIVER. Standing at a height of 22 feet and stretching 800 feet in length, the dam has a storage capacity of 88 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 10 acres. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2017 was rated as poor, indicating a need for maintenance and repairs.
Managed by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, the A C Thomas Dam is regularly inspected and regulated to ensure its safety and compliance with state standards. Although it serves primarily for recreational purposes, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience in the region. With its close proximity to the Savannah District and oversight by state agencies, the dam's importance in maintaining water levels and supporting local ecosystems cannot be understated.
While the dam's condition may raise concerns, its historical significance and contribution to the community highlight the need for continued monitoring and maintenance. As climate change impacts water resources and infrastructure, the A C Thomas Dam serves as a reminder of the importance of sustainable management practices and the need for ongoing investment in maintaining critical infrastructure for future generations of water resource and climate enthusiasts.
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 A C Thomas Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Salkehatchie River Near Miley | 60 cfs | → |
| Coosawhatchie River Near Hampton | · | → |
| South Fork Edisto River Near Bamberg | 215 cfs | → |
| South Fork Edisto River Near Cope | 217 cfs | → |
| Savannah R At Burtons Ferry Br Nr Millhaven | 4,880 cfs | → |
| South Fork Edisto River Near Denmark | 214 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near A C Thomas Dam.
Boat launches
Track A C Thomas 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 A C Thomas Dam
Where does the data for A C Thomas 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 Low 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 A C Thomas Dam.