Chester State Park Dam
Chester State Park Dam is a dam located in Chester County, South Carolina, built in 1936. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Chester State Park Dam
The primary purpose of Chester State Park Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Sc Department Of Parks Recreation And Tourism (state). It impounds the Carney Fork Creek.
The dam stands 26 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 120 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 1,200 acre-feet. Completed in 1936, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/22/2024.
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 | Chester |
| River/Stream | Carney Fork Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.67800, -81.24700 |
Physical Characteristics
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Height | 26 ft |
| Year Completed | 1936 (90 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,200 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 120 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | SC DEPARTMENT OF PARKS RECREATION AND TOURISM |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 03/22/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SCD00206 |
| Federal ID | SCD00206 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |