Burnt Factory Pond Dam

About Burnt Factory Pond Dam

Burnt Factory Pond Dam is a dam in Marlboro, South Carolina. The dam is owned by John Gatton Hamby (private). It impounds the Crooked Creek.

The dam stands 18 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 135 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 855 acre-feet. Completed in 1836, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/16/2022.

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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