Sam Hoffman Pond Dam dam
Sam Hoffman Pond Dam
Sam Hoffman Pond Dam, located in Greenville, South Carolina, is a private dam primarily used for recreational purposes. Built in 1957 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 22 feet and spans 555 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 86 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the TR-North Saluda River and is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).
Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam's condition is assessed as fair, with the last inspection conducted in February 2020. The dam features uncontrolled spillways and outlet gates and is designed with a buttress core type. While the risk assessment categorizes the dam as having a moderate risk level, there are no emergency action plans or inundation maps prepared for this structure. The dam is under the jurisdiction of the Charleston District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, and its operation and maintenance fall under the responsibility of the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Sam Hoffman Pond Dam will find it to be a significant recreational asset in the region, offering a serene environment for outdoor activities. The dam's historical significance, coupled with its unique design features and regulatory oversight, make it a compelling site for study and appreciation. With ongoing inspection and maintenance protocols in place, the dam serves as a testament to the importance of responsible water resource management and infrastructure upkeep in ensuring public safety and environmental stewardship.
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 Sam Hoffman Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Saluda River Near Cleveland | 16 cfs | → |
| South Saluda River Near Cleveland | 5 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Greenville | 134 cfs | → |
| Middle Tyger River Near Gramling | 7 cfs | → |
| Brushy Creek Near Greenville | 4 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Creek Above Greer | 14 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sam Hoffman Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- J. Verne Smith Park (Lake Robinson)
- Buckskin Road Pickens County
- Pisgah Forest Access Brevard
- Crow Creek Access Road Pickens County
- Hooper Lane Mills River
Campgrounds
- Pleasant Ridge County Park
- Camp Burgess Glen Lake
- Black Forest Family Camping Resort
- Paris Mountain State Park
- Table Rock State Park
- Cantrell Campsite
Fishing spots
- Bear Creek Lake
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Presbyterian Lake
- Lightwood Log Creek
- Lake Hartwell
- Macedonia Lake
Paddle runs
- South Fork From Confluence With Pigeon Br To Nf Boundary
- Mills River From Confluence Of North/South Forks To Confluence With Foster Creek
- North Fork From Bottom Of Spillway Of Hendersonville Reservoir To Confluence With South Fork
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork
- Dark Prong From Headwaters To Confluence East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
- Yellowstone Prong From Headwaters To Confluence With East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
Track Sam Hoffman 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 Sam Hoffman Pond Dam
Where does the data for Sam Hoffman 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 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 Sam Hoffman Pond Dam.