Ben Lippen School Dam dam
Ben Lippen School Dam
Ben Lippen School Dam, located in Richland, South Carolina, is a private earth dam completed in 1990 primarily for recreational purposes. Standing at a height of 36 feet and stretching 275 feet in length, the dam boasts a storage capacity of 50 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 32 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2017 revealed it to be in poor condition, prompting concerns about its long-term structural integrity.
Managed by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Ben Lippen School Dam overlooks the TR-Broad River and falls under state jurisdiction for regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. While the dam has not undergone significant modifications since its completion, its poor condition assessment raises questions about the need for potential risk management measures and emergency action preparedness. With a designated inspection frequency of five years, the dam's outdated condition assessment underscores the importance of regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety of downstream communities and water resources.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts track the state of Ben Lippen School Dam, the dam's association with recreation highlights the delicate balance between human activities and environmental stewardship. With a risk assessment and risk management measures yet to be developed, stakeholders are urged to prioritize the dam's upkeep and safety to mitigate potential hazards and safeguard the surrounding ecosystem. Through proactive maintenance and adherence to regulatory guidelines, Ben Lippen School Dam can continue to provide recreational opportunities while upholding its responsibilities as a critical infrastructure component in South Carolina's water resource management.
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 Ben Lippen School Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Smith Branch At North Main St At Columbia | 2 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Columbia | 2,620 cfs | → |
| Congaree River At Columbia | 9,260 cfs | → |
| Gills Creek At Columbia | 44 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Below Lk Murray Dam Nr Columbia | 2,400 cfs | → |
| Broad River At Alston | 4,010 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ben Lippen School Dam.
Boat launches
- Highway 6 6, Columbia
- Lake Carolina Drive Richland County
- Morning Sun Court 98, Richland County
- Cove Launch Court Lexington County
- Shull Island Boat Ramp
- Eastshore Drive 143, Lexington County
Track Ben Lippen School 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 Ben Lippen School Dam
Where does the data for Ben Lippen School 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 Ben Lippen School Dam.