Falls Pond Dam dam
Falls Pond Dam
Falls Pond Dam, located in Calhoun, South Carolina, is a private-owned structure with a primary purpose of recreation. Standing at 20 feet tall and stretching over 575 feet in length, this earth dam on Rock Branch provides a storage capacity of 101 acre-feet. Despite its significant hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is rated as poor, indicating the need for maintenance or rehabilitation.
Managed by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Falls Pond Dam is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement. The dam's last inspection in September 2020 revealed its current state, highlighting the need for urgent attention to ensure public safety and prevent potential risks associated with its structure. With a history of modifications unlisted, the dam's risk management measures and emergency action plans remain unspecified.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts intrigued by Falls Pond Dam's location, design, and condition can observe the ongoing challenges faced by this recreational structure. As a significant hazard potential and poor condition dam, its maintenance and management are crucial to prevent any potential disasters and ensure its continued safe operation for recreational purposes in the area. Monitoring its risk assessment, emergency preparedness, and structural improvements will be essential in safeguarding both the dam's integrity 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 Falls Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Fork Edisto River At Orangeburg | 222 cfs | → |
| Gills Creek At Columbia | 12 cfs | → |
| Congaree River At Columbia | 2,340 cfs | → |
| Wateree R. Bl Eastover | 2,400 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Columbia | 830 cfs | → |
| Smith Branch At North Main St At Columbia | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Falls Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Savannah Highway Neeses
- Shillings Bridge Road Orangeburg County
- Us 601 Calhoun County
- Bobcat Landing Road , 29003
- Landing Lane Calhoun County
- Highway 6 6, Columbia
Track Falls 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 Falls Pond Dam
Where does the data for Falls 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 Falls Pond Dam.