Copeland Pond Dam dam
Copeland Pond Dam
Copeland Pond Dam, located in Lee, South Carolina, is a privately owned structure built in 1959 primarily for recreational purposes. The dam, constructed with an earth core and buttress type foundation, stands at a height of 12 feet and spans a length of 580 feet. With a storage capacity of 81 acre-feet and a surface area of 11 acres, the dam serves as a popular spot for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and picnicking along the TR-LYNCHES RIVER.
Managed by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Copeland Pond Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its safety and compliance with environmental standards. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is currently marked as "Not Rated", indicating a need for further evaluation. With the last inspection conducted in January 2013, the dam undergoes regular assessments every five years to monitor its structural integrity and potential risks.
Although Copeland Pond Dam does not have a designated Emergency Action Plan (EAP) or inundation maps prepared, the structure has not been assigned a Dam Safety Action Classification (DSAC) or undergone a comprehensive risk assessment. As such, there is an opportunity for enhanced risk management measures to be implemented to mitigate any potential hazards and ensure the safety of the surrounding community and environment. Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the importance of proper dam maintenance and monitoring to safeguard against unforeseen emergencies and protect the natural ecosystem.
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 Copeland Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lynches River Near Bishopville | 136 cfs | → |
| Black Creek Near Hartsville | 46 cfs | → |
| Black Creek Near Mcbee | 43 cfs | → |
| Black Creek Near Quinby | 308 cfs | → |
| Lynches River At Effingham | 153 cfs | → |
| Wateree River Nr. Camden | 3,960 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Copeland Pond Dam.
Track Copeland Pond 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 Copeland Pond Dam
Where does the data for Copeland Pond 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 Copeland Pond Dam.