Rocky River Gated Spillway
Rocky River Gated Spillway is a buttress dam located in Abbeville County, South Carolina, built in 1940. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Rocky River Gated Spillway
The primary purpose of Rocky River Gated Spillway is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Abbeville, City Of (local government). It impounds the Rocky.
The dam stands 50 feet tall and stretches 88 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,425 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 26,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 196 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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/27/2022.
At 50 feet, this dam is taller than 93% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | South Carolina |
| County | Abbeville |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Rocky |
| Coordinates | 34.25672, -82.61331 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Buttress |
| NID Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Length | 88 ft |
| Year Completed | 1940 (86 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 26,300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 26,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 25,650 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,425 acres |
| Drainage Area | 196 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 34,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Abbeville, City of |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/27/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SC00247 |
| Federal ID | SC00247S001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |