Sudlow Lake Dam

About Sudlow Lake Dam

The primary purpose of Sudlow Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Bill And Brenda Scoggins;brenda Ice And Derek C Tudor;dicky And Cindy Nichols;ernest Wrenn And Brenda Ice Wrenn;frank And Rhonda Cogburn;gerald Baker And The Lawrence Franklin Baker Sr Estate Erlene M Baker Trustee;janet Cogburn;kay Cartlege, Ray Cartlege And Joe Cartlege;mark And Tara Moon;mark Livingson And Erin Livingson;richard And Bobbie Smith;stan Weaver;sudlow Lake Homeowner's Association (private). It impounds the Little Horse Creek.

The dam stands 23 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 37 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 333 acre-feet. Completed in 1915, the structure is over a century 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 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 11/25/2024.

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.

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