Westvaco Corporation Dam dam
Westvaco Corporation Dam
The Westvaco Corporation Dam, located in Hampton, South Carolina, serves as a vital resource for fish and wildlife as a designated Fish and Wildlife Pond. Completed in 1997, this Earth dam stands at a height of 9 feet and has a length of 370 feet, providing a storage capacity of 50 acre-feet. With a normal storage level of 19.5 acre-feet and a surface area of 8 acres, the dam plays a crucial role in supporting local ecosystems and recreational activities.
Despite its low hazard potential, the Westvaco Corporation Dam is currently assessed as being in poor condition as of November 2017. The dam is inspected every five years to ensure its structural integrity and safety. While it meets the state's regulatory standards and is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway, there are concerns about its overall maintenance and long-term sustainability. As climate change continues to impact water resources, it is essential to prioritize the upkeep and monitoring of dams like Westvaco Corporation to protect both the environment and surrounding communities.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Westvaco Corporation Dam represents a unique intersection of environmental conservation and infrastructure management. As a privately-owned structure regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, this dam serves as a model for balancing the needs of wildlife habitats, recreational opportunities, and water supply demands. By addressing the current poor condition assessment and implementing risk management measures, the Westvaco Corporation Dam can continue to fulfill its essential role in preserving the delicate balance of water resources in the region.
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 Westvaco Corporation Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Coosawhatchie River Near Hampton | · | → |
| Salkehatchie River Near Miley | 60 cfs | → |
| Savannah River Near Clyo | 4,860 cfs | → |
| Savannah R At Burtons Ferry Br Nr Millhaven | 4,880 cfs | → |
| Edisto River Nr Givhans | 477 cfs | → |
| Ebenezer Creek At Springfield | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Westvaco Corporation Dam.
Track Westvaco Corporation 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 Westvaco Corporation Dam
Where does the data for Westvaco Corporation 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 Westvaco Corporation Dam.