Dams & Reservoirs | South Carolina Department of Environmental Services

During Emergency Situations call the Dam Safety Program
Staff are available 24/7 at 803-898-1939

What's New

9/5/2024-FFY2024 High Hazard Potential Dams (HHPD) Grant Extension

SCDES has applied for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)'s FY2024 High Hazard Potential Dams Rehab Grant and will be providing a subaward opportunity for dam projects meeting FEMA's eligibility criteria. Upon receipt of an award, the SCDES Dam Safety Program will post a final Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and all application documents and open the subaward application period. The program has a dedicated page containing full details of this program.

As funds have yet to be awarded, the application period for eligible project sponsors to submit applications to SCDES is not open yet. Subapplicants choosing to develop their subaward applications prior to SCDES receiving its award must do so at their own risk. The previously announced deadline for project sponsors to submit applications to SCDES for the FY24 subawards was August 16, 2024. This deadline has now officially been extended to November 1, 2024 . Interested dam owners and project sponsors should continue to work on developing their project proposals for when the application period opens. All questions about this grant opportunity can be directed to Brittany.Felder@des.sc.gov.

More information about the grant program can be found in FEMA's FFY24 FEMA Notice of Funding Opportunity for HHPD Rehab Grants

SCDES held an informational webinar for prospective applicants April 10, 2024. A recording of the webinar is available alongside presentation slides.

Topics covered include:

Background and available funds
Dam eligibility
Applicant eligibility
Allowable activities
Grant application process and timeline
SCDES’ application review and award selection process
State and Federal requirements of a grant award

This year's grant is a significantly increased investment in the program, as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act infused $585 million dollars that will be allocated over the next 3 grant cycles, with up to $185 million to be awarded in FFY24. The amount that will be made available to South Carolina will be determined once FEMA receives all state applications and reviews the states' lists of eligible dams.

The State of the Dams

Investment in the protection of South Carolina’s people, natural resources, and infrastructure through dam safety

A report on the state of dam safety in South Carolina

Published: August 20, 2020

From 2015 to the present, South Carolina has been affected by numerous tropical weather systems and non-tropical rainstorms/thunderstorms that have dropped extreme amounts of precipitation in vast areas of the State generally over short periods of time. These events have been felt directly by the owners and operators of state-regulated dams. Back-to-back hurricanes in October 2015 and October 2016 resulted in 70 regulated dam failures statewide. Consequently, SCDHEC undertook an effort to rebuild and reinvigorate the Dam Safety Program, with critical funding from the General Assembly in the form of new one-time and recurring funds. Significant progress has been made in that revitalization effort, although challenges remain. The Dam Safety Program in the Bureau of Water is proud to provide this report – The State of the Dams – to document the progress that has been made, and how the infusions of state funding has been wisely invested, in improving dam safety in South Carolina.

Download and View State of the Dams Report

Understanding Dam Classifications

Dams are classified based on their size (large, intermediate, small, very small) and their hazard potential (high, significant, low). For a dam to be regulated and appear in the Dams and Reservoirs Safety Program inventory, it must meet at least one of the following criteria and not fall under a regulatory exemption.

A dam can be regulated by the state if it:

Is 25 feet or greater in height from top to bottom of the structure
Can impound (hold back) 50 acre-feet or more of water at maximum storage
Represents a high-hazard potential where improper operation or dam failure may cause loss of human life, regardless of the overall size of the dam

Dams exempted from state regulation are those that meet at least one of the following criteria:

They do not meet the regulated size and hazard criteria
They are owned or operated by a department or agency of the federal government
They are owned or licensed by an appropriate federal licensing agency in the department's judgment, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or the United States Army Corp of Engineers
Where the South Carolina Department of Transportation or a county or municipal government has accepted maintenance responsibility for a road or highway and that road or highway is the only danger to life or property if the dam were to fail
In the Department's judgment and because of the dam's size and location, there is no significant threat or danger to downstream life or property.

Hazard potential is determined by the department using the best available data and evaluates the potential loss of human life or property damage in the event of failure or improper operation of the dam or associated structures.

A High-hazard (C1) dam is a structure where failure will likely cause loss of life and/or serious damage to infrastructure.
A Significant-hazard (C2) dam is a structure where failure will not likely cause loss of life infrastructure may be damaged.
A Low-hazard (C3) dam is a structure where failure may cause limited property damage.

Program Activities

Under state law and regulations, before a dam that meets regulatory criteria can be built, altered, repaired, or removed plans and specifications must be submitted to the Dams and Reservoirs Safety Program for review. Once that review is complete, work can commence after a written permit is issued by the Department. The Dams and Reservoirs Safety Program reviews permit applications while also conducting safety inspections of regulated dams and providing informational and technical assistance to dam owners and operators in South Carolina to ensure their compliance with state laws and regulations.

The program conducts construction inspections and final inspections on permitted projects to ensure all work is performed in accordance with the approved plans and specifications. Before a regulated dam or reservoir can be placed into operation, written authorization must be granted by the program.

The Environmental Quality Control Regional Offices are responsible for routine inspections and classification checks on dams. Routine inspections are performed on high hazard dams every two years and significant hazard dams every three years. The findings of these inspections are provided to dam owners with recommendations or requirements to address deficiencies noted during the inspection. Low hazard dams are not regularly inspected but are evaluated periodically to determine if new hazards have been constructed downstream that may lead to a reclassification of the dam's hazard potential. As necessary, the program also takes enforcement action on dams deemed to be unsafe and to ensure compliance with issued permits.

Dam Owners and Residents

Under state law, dam owners are responsible for maintaining the structural integrity of their dams whether or not their dam is regulated by the Dams and Reservoirs Safety Program. While SCDES does not provide engineering or maintenance services, the agency does provide technical assistance and information to help dam owners maintain compliance with safety regulations. Under state law, the owners of High and Significant Hazard potential dams are also required to have and maintain an Emergency Action Plan (EAP).

If you are a dam owner and are considering the alteration, repair or removal of a dam, please visit the dam permitting page.

If you are a resident who lives near or below a dam, please visit www.livingneardams.org.

Dam Safety Program Contacts

For questions or more information, contact:
John M. McCain, P.E., Manager
Phone: (803) 898-8178
Email: john.mccain@des.sc.gov

Or you can also contact your local SCDES regional dam inspector:

Bureau and Regional Office staff are available for presentations on topics related to dam safety and maintenance, state regulations, and other business of the Dams and Reservoirs Safety Program. Please send us an email if you are interested in arranging a presentation for a group or class.

During Emergency Situations call the Dam Safety Program
Staff are available 24/7 at 803-898-1939