Bill Besson Dam
Bill Besson Dam is a dam located in Edgefield County, South Carolina, built in 1997. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Bill Besson Dam
The primary purpose of Bill Besson Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Besson Family Land Llc (private). It impounds the Bell Branch.
The dam stands 23 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 9 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 125 acre-feet. Completed in 1997, the structure is 29 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 07/31/2017.
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Location
| State | South Carolina |
| County | Edgefield |
| River/Stream | Bell Branch |
| Coordinates | 33.94820, -82.03900 |
Physical Characteristics
| NID Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Height | 23 ft |
| Year Completed | 1997 (29 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 125 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 125 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 75 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 9 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | BESSON FAMILY LAND LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/31/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SCD04487 |
| Federal ID | SCD04487 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |