Dinkins Millpond Dam dam
Dinkins Millpond Dam
Dinkins Millpond Dam, located in Sumter, South Carolina, stands as a historic structure completed in the early 1800s for the primary purpose of recreation. The dam, made of earth and stone with a height of 14 feet and a length of 1030 feet, creates a surface area of 50 acres along the Little Rafting Creek. Despite its age, the dam is still in fair condition and is regularly inspected by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
With a storage capacity of 600 acre-feet, Dinkins Millpond Dam serves as a vital resource for the local community, providing both recreational opportunities and flood control along the creek. However, the dam is classified as having a high hazard potential, highlighting the importance of ongoing maintenance and risk management. While the dam currently meets regulatory guidelines, there is a need for updated emergency action plans and risk assessments to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the preservation and maintenance of dams like Dinkins Millpond Dam become increasingly important. By staying proactive in their approach to risk management and emergency preparedness, the owners of the dam can help mitigate potential threats and ensure the long-term sustainability of this historical landmark.
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 Dinkins Millpond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wateree R. Bl Eastover | 2,400 cfs | → |
| Wateree River Nr. Camden | 3,960 cfs | → |
| Lynches River Near Bishopville | 136 cfs | → |
| Gills Creek At Columbia | 27 cfs | → |
| Smith Branch At North Main St At Columbia | 4 cfs | → |
| Congaree River At Columbia | 10,200 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dinkins Millpond Dam.
Boat launches
- West Dekalb Street Lugoff
- Us 601 Calhoun County
- Morning Sun Court 98, Richland County
- Buck Hill Landing Road Kershaw County
- Lake Carolina Drive Richland County
Track Dinkins Millpond 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 Dinkins Millpond Dam
Where does the data for Dinkins Millpond 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 Dinkins Millpond Dam.