Woodrow Smith Dam dam
Woodrow Smith Dam
Woodrow Smith Dam, located in Horry, South Carolina, stands as a testament to the importance of water resource management and climate resilience. Completed in 1950, this earth dam with a height of 10.5 feet and a length of 650 feet serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a surface area of 18.3 acres and a storage capacity of 1055 acre-feet. Despite its modest size, the dam plays a critical role in regulating the flow of the Brown Swamp, contributing to the overall ecological balance of the region.
Owned privately, Woodrow Smith Dam is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC), ensuring that all state permitting, inspection, and enforcement measures are in place to maintain its structural integrity and public safety. The dam's poor condition assessment and high hazard potential underscore the need for ongoing risk management and emergency preparedness efforts. With a history of periodic inspections and a designated emergency action plan frequency, the dam is closely monitored to mitigate potential risks and safeguard the surrounding community.
As the Charleston District of the US Army Corps of Engineers oversees this vital infrastructure, it is crucial for water resource and climate enthusiasts to recognize the significance of Woodrow Smith Dam in sustaining the ecological balance and recreational opportunities in the region. By understanding the dam's design, purpose, and current condition, stakeholders can work together to ensure its continued operation and resilience in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Woodrow Smith Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Waccamaw River At Conway Marina At Conway | 2,260 cfs | → |
| Little Pee Dee R. At Galivants Ferry | 371 cfs | → |
| Pee Dee River At Hwy 701 Nr Bucksport | 242 cfs | → |
| Waccamaw River Near Longs | 13 cfs | → |
| Pee Dee River Below Pee Dee | 1,780 cfs | → |
| Pee Dee River At Peedee | 1,740 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Woodrow Smith Dam.
Boat launches
- Lee's Landing
- Ernest L. Anderson Bridge Marion County
- Huggins Landing Road 501, Horry County
- Reaves Ferry Landing
- Peachtree Landing
- Fiddlehead Way 1031, Horry County
Campgrounds
- Kampgrounds Of America Myrtle Beach
- Myrtle Beach State Park
- Lee Ches's Beach House
- Huntington Beach State Park
- Little Pee Dee State Park
- Nice Walk Up Beach
Paddle runs
Track Woodrow Smith 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 Woodrow Smith Dam
Where does the data for Woodrow Smith 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 Woodrow Smith Dam.