Cains Millpond Dam dam
Cains Millpond Dam
Cains Millpond Dam in South Carolina, completed in 1850, stands as a historical earth dam on Nasty Branch. This private-owned dam primarily serves recreational purposes and holds a storage capacity of 550 acre-feet. With a structural height of 9 feet and a length of 760 feet, the dam covers an area of 117 acres, providing a serene environment for outdoor activities.
Despite its historical significance, recent inspections have revealed that Cains Millpond Dam is in poor condition, with a significant hazard potential. The State of South Carolina regulates and inspects the dam regularly to ensure public safety. The dam's emergency action plan was last revised in 2008, and it is crucial for the owners to address the poor condition to mitigate potential risks and ensure the dam's longevity for future generations of water resource and climate enthusiasts.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to recognize the importance of maintaining and improving infrastructure like Cains Millpond Dam. By addressing the dam's poor condition and implementing risk management measures, we can preserve its historical significance while ensuring the safety of the surrounding community and the environment. Joining forces with regulatory agencies and local stakeholders can help create a sustainable plan for the dam's future, allowing it to continue serving as a valuable recreational resource in Sumter, South Carolina.
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 Cains Millpond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wateree R. Bl Eastover | 2,400 cfs | → |
| Lynches River Near Bishopville | 136 cfs | → |
| Wateree River Nr. Camden | 3,960 cfs | → |
| Santee River Near Pineville | 662 cfs | → |
| Gills Creek At Columbia | 27 cfs | → |
| Black River At Kingstree | 32 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cains Millpond Dam.
Boat launches
- Us 601 Calhoun County
- Palmetto Trail Lake Marion Passage Clarendon County
- Landing Lane Calhoun County
- Coveside Circle 28, Calhoun County
- State Highway 260 Clarendon County
- Log Jam Road Clarendon County
Campgrounds
- Falcons Nest Military - Shaw Afb
- Poinsett State Park
- Bluff Campground
- Santee State Park
- Polly's Landing Campground
- Longleaf Campground
Paddle runs
Track Cains 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 Cains Millpond Dam
Where does the data for Cains 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 Significant 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 Cains Millpond Dam.