Lower Chestnut Lake Dam dam
Lower Chestnut Lake Dam
Lower Chestnut Lake Dam, located in Horry, South Carolina, is a private earth dam completed in 1965 primarily for recreational purposes. With a height of 8 feet and a length of 500 feet, the dam holds a storage capacity of 42 acre-feet, providing a surface area of 9 acres for water enthusiasts to enjoy. However, despite its recreational allure, the dam is classified as having a significant hazard potential and is assessed as being in poor condition as of its last inspection in December 2017.
Managed by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC), Lower Chestnut Lake Dam presents a critical water resource structure within the region. Its state-regulated status ensures ongoing inspections, permitting, and enforcement activities to mitigate any potential risks associated with its aging infrastructure. The dam's association with the TR-Atlantic Ocean river stream highlights its vital role in maintaining water levels and contributing to the overall ecosystem health in the area.
As climate and water resource enthusiasts continue to monitor the state of dams like Lower Chestnut Lake Dam, it becomes evident that proactive risk management measures are necessary to ensure the safety and sustainability of these vital structures. With its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and the potential for significant hazard, ongoing assessment and maintenance efforts are crucial to safeguarding both the dam's recreational value and the surrounding environment's ecological integrity.
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 Lower Chestnut Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Waccamaw River Near Longs | 24 cfs | → |
| Waccamaw River At Conway Marina At Conway | 2,260 cfs | → |
| Pee Dee River At Hwy 701 Nr Bucksport | 7,780 cfs | → |
| Waccamaw River At Freeland | 7 cfs | → |
| Little Pee Dee R. At Galivants Ferry | 313 cfs | → |
| Turkey Creek Near Maryville | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Chestnut Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- William H. Alford Bridge Horry County
- Fiddlehead Way 1031, Horry County
- 2nd Avenue South, North Myrtle Beach
- Waccamaw Lane 101, Horry County
- Reaves Ferry Landing
- Chris Anderson Landing
Campgrounds
- Kampgrounds Of America Myrtle Beach
- Lee Ches's Beach House
- Nice Walk Up Beach
- Myrtle Beach State Park
- Huntington Beach State Park
Paddle runs
Track Lower Chestnut Lake 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 Lower Chestnut Lake Dam
Where does the data for Lower Chestnut Lake 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 Lower Chestnut Lake Dam.