Loblolly Timberlands Dam dam
Loblolly Timberlands Dam
Loblolly Timberlands Dam, located in Fairfield, South Carolina, stands as a testament to private ownership and responsible water resource management. Built in 1965 with a primary purpose of recreation, this earth dam with a buttress core boasts a height of 32 feet and a length of 1050 feet. With a storage capacity of 387 acre-feet and a surface area of 44 acres, the dam serves as a vital structure in the conservation and utilization of water resources in the region.
Managed by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, the dam is subject to regular inspections and enforcement measures to ensure its integrity and safety. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, the dam's emergency action plan status and risk assessment remain unspecified. With a history of meeting guidelines and maintaining regulatory compliance, the Loblolly Timberlands Dam continues to play a crucial role in water management and recreational activities along the TR-Cedar Creek.
As climate change impacts water resources and infrastructure, the Loblolly Timberlands Dam stands as a crucial component in South Carolina's water management strategy. With a conservative hazard potential and fair condition assessment, ongoing monitoring and maintenance efforts are essential to ensure the dam's continued effectiveness and safety for both recreational and ecological purposes. As enthusiasts of water resources and climate resilience, staying informed about the status and management of structures like the Loblolly Timberlands Dam is key to promoting sustainable water management practices in the region.
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 Loblolly Timberlands Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Smith Branch At North Main St At Columbia | 2 cfs | → |
| Broad River At Alston | 3,340 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Columbia | 2,520 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Below Lk Murray Dam Nr Columbia | 2,400 cfs | → |
| Congaree River At Columbia | 8,700 cfs | → |
| Gills Creek At Columbia | 32 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Loblolly Timberlands Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Carolina Drive Richland County
- Morning Sun Court 98, Richland County
- Buck Hill Landing Road Kershaw County
- Highway 6 6, Columbia
- Broad River Road Newberry County
- West Dekalb Street Lugoff
Campgrounds
- Camp Longridge
- Sesquicentennial State Park
- Lake Wateree State Rec Area
- Wateree Military
- Woodmen Of The World Park
- Weston Lake Military - Fort Jackson
Fishing spots
Track Loblolly Timberlands 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 Loblolly Timberlands Dam
Where does the data for Loblolly Timberlands 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 Loblolly Timberlands Dam.