Upper Sunnyhill Pond Dam

Dam Number SCD02523, High Hazard Potential, Kershaw County

Upcoming January 14, 2026 Meeting

The SC Department of Environmental Services is holding a public meeting on Wednesday, January 14th at 6:30 PM at the Revolutionary War Visitors Center to once again discuss the Upper Sunnyhill Pond Dam with members of the Sunnyhill community.  Since the first meeting on August 28, 2024, the City of Camden hired an engineering firm to conduct a preliminary investigation into the severity of the condition of t

Below is a listing of all of the confirmed breached dams to date following Hurricane Florence. The table includes links to inspection reports that have been issued as a result of statewide assessments of dams.

Reports are available in pdf format.

Pre-Florence 2018 Dam - Assessment

Below is a listing of all of the confirmed breached dams to date after the historic 2015 flooding in South Carolina. The table includes links to inspection reports and/or additional records on file for each regulated dam. The documents provided are from before the 2015 flooding events to offer a historical record of each dam.

Records are available in pdf format.

Updated December 21, 2016

Aiken County

As a result of ongoing statewide assessments of dams following the recent historic rains and flooding, DHEC is ordering actions at a number of dams statewide. Below are emergency orders issued for dams in South Carolina as of November 20, 2015.

The emergency orders are part of DHEC's ongoing proactive assessment process looking at all Class One and Class Two dams across the state. There is no immediate threat to public safety at this time.

Download a pdf copy of the order by clicking the dam name.

Dams and Reservoirs Safety Program Submittal Package and Where to Apply Submittal Package complete submittal package for a new dam consists of the following:

1. a completed permit application;
2. a site location map;
3. plans and specifications;*
4. a design report which includes calculations prepared by an engineer licensed to practice professional engineering in the state of South Carolina.*  and

5. for a high or significant hazard dam, an emergency action plan.

Permit Requirements

The requirement to obtain a permit applies to construction of new dams that meet the size to be regulated, as well as to alterations, repairs, and removals of existing dams that are regulated.

Alteration - any change to a dam or reservoir which affects the physical parameters and safety of the dam or reservoir which may include but is not limited to changing the height of a dam, increasing the normal pool or principal spillway elevation or changing the elevation or physical dimensions of an emergency spillway.

Appurtenant works - include but are not limited to such structures as spillways, either in the dam or separate therefrom, low level outlet works and water conduits.

To promote teamwork between state regulators and dam owners, the Dam Safety Program would like to ensure that high-quality educational resources are available to everyone interested in dams and dam safety. The program hosts occasional workshops and technical training sessions for dam owners and engineers and has partnered with other dam safety organizations to provide resources to assist those who own or live near a dam. 

Section 12-6-3370 of the 1976 South Carolina Code of Laws provides for a state tax credit for the construction, installation or restoration of water impoundments and water control structures used for certain purposes. That Section of the 1976 Code is printed here:

Section 12-6-3370. Tax credits for construction, installation or restoration of water impoundments and water control structures.

What is ReadyOP?

The Dam Safety Program has contracted with ReadyOp Communications Inc to implement the ReadyOP emergency notification tool. ReadyOP allows the Dam Safety Program to quickly alert the owners, operators, and designated emergency contacts of state-regulated dams. These messages may be issued to the owners, operators, and designated emergency contacts of all regulated dams statewide or targeted to dams by Hazard Classification or by region based on the nature of the potential or actual emergency.