Christmas Mill Lake Dam dam
Christmas Mill Lake Dam
Christmas Mill Lake Dam, located in Sumter, South Carolina, is a state-owned structure on Shanks Creek primarily used for recreational purposes. The dam, with a height of 12 feet and a length of 142 feet, provides a storage capacity of 65 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is marked as poor, indicating a need for potential improvements or repairs.
Managed by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, the dam is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement. The last inspection in 2017 revealed its poor condition, highlighting the importance of ongoing maintenance and monitoring to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure. While the dam poses a low hazard, its significance for recreation underscores the need for proactive risk management measures to safeguard both the environment and public safety.
As a popular spot for outdoor activities, Christmas Mill Lake Dam serves as a vital resource for the community. With its location in the Charleston District and oversight by state regulatory agencies, the dam plays a key role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region. Continued attention to its maintenance and improvement will be crucial in preserving its functionality and safety for future generations of water resource and climate enthusiasts.
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 Christmas Mill Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wateree R. Bl Eastover | 2,400 cfs | → |
| Gills Creek At Columbia | 27 cfs | → |
| North Fork Edisto River At Orangeburg | 260 cfs | → |
| Wateree River Nr. Camden | 3,960 cfs | → |
| Congaree River At Columbia | 10,200 cfs | → |
| Santee River Near Pineville | 662 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Christmas Mill Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Us 601 Calhoun County
- Landing Lane Calhoun County
- Palmetto Trail Lake Marion Passage Clarendon County
- Coveside Circle 28, Calhoun County
- Boy Scout Circle Orangeburg County
- Santee Drive Orangeburg County
Campgrounds
- Poinsett State Park
- Falcons Nest Military - Shaw Afb
- Bluff Campground
- Longleaf Campground
- Santee State Park
- Polly's Landing Campground
Paddle runs
Track Christmas Mill 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 Christmas Mill Lake Dam
Where does the data for Christmas Mill 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 Low 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 Christmas Mill Lake Dam.