Lake Carolina Dam
Lake Carolina Dam is a dam located in Richland County, South Carolina, built in 1999. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Carolina Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Carolina Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by The Lake Association Inc (private). It impounds the Rice Creek.
The dam stands 47 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 220 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 5,564 acre-feet. Completed in 1999, the structure is 27 years old.
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 04/18/2023.
At 47 feet, this dam is taller than 92% of dams nationwide.
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 | Richland |
| River/Stream | Rice Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.17690, -80.87590 |
Physical Characteristics
| NID Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Height | 47 ft |
| Year Completed | 1999 (27 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,564 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,564 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,700 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 220 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | THE LAKE ASSOCIATION INC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/18/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SCD04521 |
| Federal ID | SCD04521 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |