Semmes Lake is an earth dam located in Richland County, South Carolina, built in 1940. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 27 ft27 ft tall and 970 ft long, taller than 59% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Semmes Lake
The primary purpose of Semmes Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Fort Jackson (federal). It impounds the Wildcat Creek near Columbia Sc.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 970 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 29 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 641 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1940, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/24/2021.
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Location
| State | South Carolina |
| County | Richland |
| Nearest City | Columbia Sc |
| River/Stream | Wildcat Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.00500, -80.94167 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 970 ft |
| Year Completed | 1940 (86 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 641 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 641 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 329 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 29 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Fort Jackson |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 03/24/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SC00225 |
| Federal ID | SC00225 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |