Royal Lake Dam dam
Royal Lake Dam
Royal Lake Dam, located in Aiken, South Carolina, is a privately owned structure that serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Completed in 1990, this earth dam stands at a height of 29 feet and spans a length of 375 feet, with a storage capacity of 200 acre-feet. The dam, situated on Hollow Creek, is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC) and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its fair condition and high hazard potential are managed effectively.
Despite its critical flood risk reduction function, Royal Lake Dam also offers recreational opportunities, showcasing its multifaceted impact on the local community. With a surface area of 9 acres and normal storage of 54 acre-feet, the dam provides a tranquil backdrop for outdoor activities and wildlife habitat. The dam's fair condition assessment, last conducted in November 2020, underscores the importance of ongoing maintenance and risk management measures to safeguard its integrity and ensure public safety in the face of potential emergencies.
Managed by a private entity, Royal Lake Dam serves as a vital component of the water resource infrastructure in the region, highlighting the intersection of human intervention and natural processes. As climate change continues to impact weather patterns and precipitation levels, the role of dams like Royal Lake in mitigating flood risks and providing recreational opportunities becomes increasingly significant. With a high hazard potential and a comprehensive inspection and regulatory framework in place, Royal Lake Dam stands as a testament to the careful balance between water resource management and environmental stewardship.
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 Royal Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Savannah River At Augusta | 3,890 cfs | → |
| Augusta Canal Nr Augusta (Upper) | 2,290 cfs | → |
| Mctier Creek (Rd 209) Near Monetta | 1 cfs | → |
| Butler Creek Below 7th Avenue | 7 cfs | → |
| Spirit Creek At Us 1 | 9 cfs | → |
| Brier Creek Near Waynesboro | 86 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Royal Lake Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Royal 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 Royal Lake Dam
Where does the data for Royal 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 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 Royal Lake Dam.