Cooper Dev - Pinopolis Dam
Cooper Dev - Pinopolis Dam is an earth dam located in Berkeley County, South Carolina, built in 1942. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Cooper Dev - Pinopolis Dam
The primary purpose of Cooper Dev - Pinopolis Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by South Carolina Public Service Authority (state). It impounds the Cooper near Moncks Corner.
The dam stands 138 feet tall and stretches 50,072 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 60,000 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 110,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 15,000 square miles. Completed in 1942, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/15/2022.
At 138 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The South Carolina dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | South Carolina |
| County | Berkeley |
| Nearest City | Moncks Corner |
| River/Stream | Cooper |
| Coordinates | 33.24370, -79.99240 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 138 ft |
| Dam Height | 75 ft |
| Dam Length | 50,072 ft |
| Year Completed | 1942 (84 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,110,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 110,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,110,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 60,000 acres |
| Drainage Area | 15,000 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | South Carolina Public Service Authority |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/15/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SC01076 |
| Federal ID | SC01076 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |