Smoke Pond Dam dam
Smoke Pond Dam
Smoke Pond Dam, located in Calhoun, South Carolina, is a private earth dam constructed in 1965 primarily for recreational purposes. Standing at a height of 20 feet and stretching 650 feet in length, the dam impounds the waters of Antley Spring Branch, creating a reservoir with a normal storage capacity of 86 acre-feet. Despite being privately owned, the dam is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, with regular inspections ensuring its structural integrity.
With a significant hazard potential and a fair condition assessment as of March 2021, Smoke Pond Dam is closely monitored to mitigate any risks associated with potential failure. The dam's emergency action plan (EAP) status and risk management measures remain unspecified, indicating a need for continued readiness in case of emergencies. While the dam has not been modified in recent years and lacks certain features like spillways and outlet gates, its historical importance in providing recreational opportunities underscores the importance of maintaining its safety and functionality for water resource and climate enthusiasts in the region.
Situated within the Savannah District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Smoke Pond Dam serves as a reminder of the intersection between human infrastructure and natural landscapes. As climate change impacts water resources worldwide, the monitoring and maintenance of dams like Smoke Pond become even more critical to ensure the safety of communities and the preservation of ecosystems. With its location in a region susceptible to extreme weather events, ongoing attention to the condition and management of Smoke Pond Dam is essential to safeguarding both recreational opportunities and the surrounding environment.
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 Smoke Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Fork Edisto River At Orangeburg | 222 cfs | → |
| Wateree R. Bl Eastover | 2,400 cfs | → |
| South Fork Edisto River Near Bamberg | 215 cfs | → |
| South Fork Edisto River Near Cope | 217 cfs | → |
| Gills Creek At Columbia | 12 cfs | → |
| South Fork Edisto River Near Denmark | 214 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Smoke Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Us 601 Calhoun County
- Shillings Bridge Road Orangeburg County
- Landing Lane Calhoun County
- Coveside Circle 28, Calhoun County
- Savannah Highway Neeses
- Boy Scout Circle Orangeburg County
Track Smoke 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 Smoke Pond Dam
Where does the data for Smoke 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 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 Smoke Pond Dam.