Sowell Dam
Sowell Dam is a dam located in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, built in 1966. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Sowell Dam
The primary purpose of Sowell Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Gaskins William Andrew (private). It impounds the Tr-little Bear Creek.
The dam stands 13 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 61 acre-feet. Completed in 1966, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 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 11/28/2023.
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Location
| State | South Carolina |
| County | Chesterfield |
| River/Stream | Tr-little Bear Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.66180, -80.09300 |
Physical Characteristics
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Height | 13 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 61 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 61 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 43 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | GASKINS WILLIAM ANDREW |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/28/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SCD03205 |
| Federal ID | SCD03205 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |