Belton Pond Dam dam
Belton Pond Dam
Belton Pond Dam, located in York, South Carolina, was completed in 1965 for the primary purpose of recreation. This private dam, standing at a height of 23 feet and a length of 260 feet, holds a maximum storage capacity of 76 acre-feet of water. With a normal storage level of 63 acre-feet, the dam encompasses a surface area of 7 acres and is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC). Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam's condition was assessed as fair during the last inspection in December 2019.
The dam, constructed as an earth dam with a stone core on soil foundations, spans the TR-Little Allison Creek. Belton Pond Dam is under state jurisdiction and is subject to permitting, inspection, and enforcement by the SC DHEC. The dam is situated within the Wilmington District of the US Army Corps of Engineers and falls under the congressional representation of Ralph Norman (R). With no associated structures and no outlet gates, the dam presents a unique recreational opportunity for water resource and climate enthusiasts in the area.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts visiting Belton Pond Dam can appreciate its role in providing recreational opportunities while being mindful of its high hazard potential. The dam's fair condition assessment underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and the preservation of the dam itself. As a privately owned structure, the responsibility for the upkeep and compliance of Belton Pond Dam falls on its owners, highlighting the critical role of private entities in the sustainable management of water resources and infrastructure.
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 Belton Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Catawba River Near Rockhill | 853 cfs | → |
| Wildcat Creek Below Rock Hill | 3 cfs | → |
| Steele Creek At Sr1441 Nr Pineville | 1 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Creek Ab Windy Gap Road Nr Shopton | 0 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek At Nc 51 Near Pineville | 39 cfs | → |
| Coffey Creek Nr Charlotte | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Belton Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Boatshore Road York County
- Windward Drive Tega Cay
- New Gray Rock Road Tega Cay
- Copperhead Island Mecklenburg County
- Soldier Road 15299, Mecklenburg County
- Piedmont Medical Center Trail York County
Campgrounds
- Ebenezer County Park
- Mcdowell Nature Preserve
- Sign Language
- Kings Mountain State Park
- Garner Creek
- Garner Creek Backcountry Campsite
Track Belton 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 Belton Pond Dam
Where does the data for Belton 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 Belton Pond Dam.