Westvaco Dam 1 dam
Westvaco Dam 1
Westvaco Dam 1, located in Berkeley, South Carolina, is a state-owned structure built in 1953 primarily for recreational purposes. Standing at a height of 13 feet and stretching 2,300 feet in length, the earth dam with a buttress core holds a normal storage capacity of 147 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 600 acre-feet. Situated on the TR-East Branch Cooper River, this dam offers a surface area of 92 acres for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy various water activities.
Despite its low hazard potential, Westvaco Dam 1 has been assessed as being in poor condition as of the last inspection in November 2017. The State of South Carolina regulates this dam, with the State Department of Health and Environmental Control overseeing its permitting, inspection, and enforcement. While the dam has not undergone any modifications in recent years and lacks detailed information on its foundations and spillway, its emergency action plan status and risk management measures remain unspecified.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Westvaco Dam 1 presents an intriguing case study of a recreational dam in need of attention and potential restoration efforts to ensure its safety and longevity. With a rich history dating back to the mid-20th century, this dam serves as a reminder of the importance of proper maintenance and monitoring in preserving essential water infrastructure for both recreational and environmental purposes.
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 Dam 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Back River At Dupont Intake Nr Kittredge | 2,010 cfs | → |
| Lake Moultrie Tailrace Canal At Moncks Corner | 1,110 cfs | → |
| Santee River Nr Jamestown | 2,130 cfs | → |
| Edisto River Nr Givhans | 604 cfs | → |
| Santee River Near Pineville | 603 cfs | → |
| Turkey Creek Near Maryville | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Westvaco Dam 1.
Boat launches
- State Highway 402 Berkeley County
- Bushy Park Boat Landing
- Paradise Island Public Boat Landing
- Ladson Road Summerville
- Hatchery Boat Ramp Lake Moultrie
- Bulls Island Road 498, Awendaw
Campgrounds
- Foster Creek Rv Military
- Halfway Creek Trail Camp
- Short Stay Navy Military
- Charleston Afb Rv Military
- Buckhall
- Buck Hall Recreation Area
Fishing spots
Track Westvaco Dam 1 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 Dam 1
Where does the data for Westvaco Dam 1 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 Dam 1.