Neeses Lake Dam is a dam located in Aiken County, South Carolina, built in 1930. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 29 ft29 ft tall, taller than 65% 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 Neeses Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Neeses Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Wexford Mills Homeowners Association Inc (private). It impounds the Cedar Creek.
The dam stands 29 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 25 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 278 acre-feet. Completed in 1930, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/27/2023.
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 | Aiken |
| River/Stream | Cedar Creek |
| Coordinates | 33.58240, -81.51110 |
Physical Characteristics
| NID Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Height | 29 ft |
| Year Completed | 1930 (96 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 278 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 278 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 215 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 25 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Wexford Mills Homeowners Association Inc |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/27/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SCD01994 |
| Federal ID | SCD01994 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |