Neal Shoals is a concrete dam located in Union County, South Carolina, built in 1905. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 32 ft32 ft tall and 1,295 ft long, taller than 74% 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 concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Neal Shoals
The primary purpose of Neal Shoals 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 South Carolina Electric and Gas Company (public utility). It impounds the Broad River.
The dam stands 32 feet tall and stretches 1,295 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 550 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,492 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2,730 square miles. Completed in 1905, the structure is over a century 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 12/01/2022.
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Location
| State | South Carolina |
| County | Union |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Broad River |
| Coordinates | 34.66530, -81.44770 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,295 ft |
| Year Completed | 1905 (121 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,492 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,492 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,350 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 550 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2,730 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | South Carolina Electric and Gas Company |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 12/01/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SC01058 |
| Federal ID | SC01058 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |