Lipscomb Pond Dam dam
Lipscomb Pond Dam
Lipscomb Pond Dam, located in Calhoun, South Carolina, stands as a private earth dam completed in 1940 for recreational purposes along the Sandy Run river. With a height of 16 feet and a length of 560 feet, the dam provides a storage capacity of 199 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 6 acres. Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment as of 2017, the dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control to ensure public safety and environmental protection.
Managed by private owners, Lipscomb Pond Dam retains a controlled spillway type, indicating a deliberate release of excess water to prevent overflow during heavy rainfall. Although its risk assessment level is classified as very high, appropriate risk management measures have yet to be specified. The dam's inspection frequency is set at 5 years, with the last assessment conducted in March 2017. Given its strategic location within the Savannah District and its recreational significance, continued monitoring and maintenance are essential to uphold the dam's integrity and ensure the safety of surrounding communities.
As a vital part of the local water resource infrastructure, Lipscomb Pond Dam serves as a recreational oasis while also posing potential risks that warrant careful oversight and management. With its historical legacy dating back to the early 20th century, the dam remains a testament to human ingenuity in harnessing nature for leisure purposes. Moving forward, collaborative efforts between private owners, regulatory agencies, and the public are crucial in safeguarding this structure for future generations of water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy responsibly.
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 Lipscomb Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Gills Creek At Columbia | 12 cfs | → |
| Congaree River At Columbia | 2,310 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Columbia | 840 cfs | → |
| Smith Branch At North Main St At Columbia | 2 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Below Lk Murray Dam Nr Columbia | 764 cfs | → |
| Wateree R. Bl Eastover | 2,400 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lipscomb Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Savannah Highway Neeses
- Shillings Bridge Road Orangeburg County
- Us 601 Calhoun County
- Highway 6 6, Columbia
- Cabana Way Lexington County
- Sandlapper Way 159, Lexington County
Track Lipscomb 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 Lipscomb Pond Dam
Where does the data for Lipscomb 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 Lipscomb Pond Dam.