John C Smith Dam

SPARROW SWAMP· Lee, South Carolina· Built 1965· 11 ft tall
Low Hazard Recreation Private

Key Takeaway

John C Smith Dam is classified as low hazard in South Carolina. It was completed in 1965 and is 61 years old. Its primary use is recreation.

Physical Details

Dam Height 11 ft (taller than 8.3% in SC)
Max Storage225 acre-ft
Normal Storage90 acre-ft
Surface Area45 acres
Year Completed1965 (61 years old)
NID IDSC00492

Safety Information

Low Hazard

No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected.

Hazard potential describes downstream consequences of failure, not the dam's current condition. What does this mean?

Emergency Action Plan: No
Last Inspection: November 9, 2017
State Regulated: Yes
Regulatory Agency: SC DHEC

Ownership

JAN W COOLER AND ROY D COOLER JR;JANICE G HOLCOMBE;LISA JACKSON;TOY GALLOWAY JR

Private

Nearby Dams

Marco Millpond Dam

Darlington, SC

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Harrells Millpond Dam

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Significant Hazard 5 ft

Al Howell Pond Dam

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Segars Millpond Dam

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Kington Lake Dam

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Unknown 12 ft

Bishopville Dam

Lee, SC

Low Hazard 8 ft

Beaverdam Millpond Dam

Darlington, SC

High Hazard 7 ft

C S Newson Dam

Lee, SC

Low Hazard 8 ft

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of John C Smith Dam?

John C Smith Dam is classified as Low Hazard. No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected. This classification refers to the potential downstream consequences of a failure, not the dam's current structural condition.

Who owns and operates John C Smith Dam?

John C Smith Dam is owned by JAN W COOLER AND ROY D COOLER JR;JANICE G HOLCOMBE;LISA JACKSON;TOY GALLOWAY JR (Private). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was John C Smith Dam built?

John C Smith Dam was completed in 1965, making it 61 years old. Many U.S. dams were built between the 1930s and 1970s during a period of major infrastructure investment.

What is the primary purpose of John C Smith Dam?

John C Smith Dam serves the following purposes: Recreation. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is John C Smith Dam?

John C Smith Dam has a dam height of 11 ft. Dam height is measured from the natural streambed at the downstream toe to the top of the dam, and may differ from the visible height.

When was John C Smith Dam last inspected?

John C Smith Dam was last inspected on November 9, 2017. Inspection dates indicate when a formal review occurred, not the results of that inspection.

Data from the National Inventory of Dams (NID) maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Dam conditions may have changed since the last update. This site is not affiliated with USACE. Do not use for emergency planning — contact your local dam safety program.