Saluda Dam
Encyclopedia
The Saluda Dam is an earthen embankment dam
located approximately 10 miles (15 km) west of Columbia, South Carolina
on the Saluda River
. Construction on the dam began in 1927 and was completed in 1930. The purpose of the dam is flood control
, hydroelectricity
, recreation
and water supply. At the time of its completion, the Saluda Dam was the world's largest earthen dam, creating the world's largest man-made lake, Lake Murray
. In 2005, construction on a 213 ft (64.9 m). tall roller-compacted concrete dam
was completed at the toe of the original dam in order to mitigate an earthquake-caused dam failure.
The SC 6 highway crosses over the dam and is used as a fast connection between the towns of Lexington, SC and Irmo, SC. The yearly football game between rival Lexington High School
and Irmo High School
is often called 'The Battle of the Dam'.
controlled by six steel
tainter gate
s. The back-up dam located at the original dam's toe and is a 2300 ft (701 m). long, 213 feet (64.9 m)-high roller-compacted concrete dam. Rock-fill embankment sections also exist on the south and north ends of the back up dam, making a total length of 5700 ft (1,737.4 m).
The hydroelectricity
power station
consists of concrete five vertical Francis turbine
s; three at 32.5 MW, one at 42.3 MW and another at 67.5 MW. The power station
receives water by means of five 223 ft (68 m). high intake towers and then into penstock
s. Water released from the power station moves down a 150 ft (45.7 m). long tailrace tunnel before being discharged back in the Saluda River.
corporation. The construction was first proposed in 1989 but did not begin until 2002. The roller-compacted concrete backup dam was required by the federal government as a mechanism for preventing flooding if an earthquake of similar magnitude to the 1886 Charleston earthquake
was to occur again in South Carolina. It was projected that large parts of the Columbia, SC metropolitan region (encompassing around 135,000 people) would have been in the flood region if the original dam was damaged.
During construction, workers laid 18590 cubic yards (14,213.1 m³) of roller-compacted concrete in one day, setting a North American record. The total fill for the back up dam is 1300000 cubic yards (993,921.3 m³). Because of this and the worker's "...proactive approach to protecting the surrounding communities, and the innovative methods they implemented to achieve that goal...", it received the 2006 American Society of Civil Engineers
Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award.
Embankment dam
An embankment dam is a massive artificial water barrier. It is typically created by the emplacement and compaction of a complex semi-plastic mound of various compositions of soil, sand, clay and/or rock. It has a semi-permanent waterproof natural covering for its surface, and a dense, waterproof...
located approximately 10 miles (15 km) west of Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
on the Saluda River
Saluda River
The Saluda River is a principal tributary of the Congaree River, about 200 mi long, in northern and western South Carolina in the United States...
. Construction on the dam began in 1927 and was completed in 1930. The purpose of the dam is flood control
Flood control
In communications, flood control is a feature of many communication protocols designed to prevent overwhelming of a destination receiver. Such controls can be implemented either in software or in hardware, and will often request that the message be resent after the receiver has finished...
, hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
, recreation
Recreation
Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure and are considered to be "fun"...
and water supply. At the time of its completion, the Saluda Dam was the world's largest earthen dam, creating the world's largest man-made lake, Lake Murray
Lake Murray (South Carolina)
Lake Murray is a reservoir in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It is approximately 50,000 acres in size, and has roughly 500 miles of shoreline. It was impounded in the late 1920s to provide hydroelectric power to the state of South Carolina. Lake Murray is fed by the Saluda River, which flows...
. In 2005, construction on a 213 ft (64.9 m). tall roller-compacted concrete dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
was completed at the toe of the original dam in order to mitigate an earthquake-caused dam failure.
The SC 6 highway crosses over the dam and is used as a fast connection between the towns of Lexington, SC and Irmo, SC. The yearly football game between rival Lexington High School
Lexington High School (South Carolina)
Lexington High School is a public high school in Lexington, South Carolina that provides education for ninth through twelfth grades, serving the communities of Lexington, Lake Murray, and Oak Grove South Carolina. Lexington High School is the second largest public high school in the state of...
and Irmo High School
Irmo High School
Irmo High School is a four-grade public high school in Irmo, a suburb of Columbia, South Carolina. Around 2,000 students are enrolled in any single year...
is often called 'The Battle of the Dam'.
Characteristics
The original Saluda Dam is a 7800 ft (2,377.4 m). long, 213 feet (64.9 m)-high earthen-embankment dam. The dam contains a 2900 ft (883.9 m). long emergency spillwaySpillway
A spillway is a structure used to provide the controlled release of flows from a dam or levee into a downstream area, typically being the river that was dammed. In the UK they may be known as overflow channels. Spillways release floods so that the water does not overtop and damage or even destroy...
controlled by six steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
tainter gate
Tainter gate
The Tainter gate is a type of radial arm floodgate used in dams and canal locks to control water flow. It is named for Wisconsin structural engineer Jeremiah Burnham Tainter....
s. The back-up dam located at the original dam's toe and is a 2300 ft (701 m). long, 213 feet (64.9 m)-high roller-compacted concrete dam. Rock-fill embankment sections also exist on the south and north ends of the back up dam, making a total length of 5700 ft (1,737.4 m).
The hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
power station
Power station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
consists of concrete five vertical Francis turbine
Francis turbine
The Francis turbine is a type of water turbine that was developed by James B. Francis in Lowell, Massachusetts. It is an inward-flow reaction turbine that combines radial and axial flow concepts....
s; three at 32.5 MW, one at 42.3 MW and another at 67.5 MW. The power station
Power station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
receives water by means of five 223 ft (68 m). high intake towers and then into penstock
Penstock
A penstock is a sluice or gate or intake structure that controls water flow, or an enclosed pipe that delivers water to hydraulic turbines and sewerage systems. It is a term that has been inherited from the technology of wooden watermills....
s. Water released from the power station moves down a 150 ft (45.7 m). long tailrace tunnel before being discharged back in the Saluda River.
Saluda Dam Remediation Project
Construction of a backup dam immediately next to the Saluda Dam was completed in 2005 by the SCANASCANA
SCANA Corporation is a $9 billion Fortune 500 energy-based holding company, based in Cayce, South Carolina, whose businesses include regulated electric and natural gas utility operations and other energy-related businesses...
corporation. The construction was first proposed in 1989 but did not begin until 2002. The roller-compacted concrete backup dam was required by the federal government as a mechanism for preventing flooding if an earthquake of similar magnitude to the 1886 Charleston earthquake
Charleston earthquake
The Charleston Earthquake of 1886 was a powerful intraplate earthquake that hit the area of Charleston, South Carolina. After the 1811 and 1812 quakes in New Madrid, Missouri, it is one of the most powerful and damaging quakes to hit the southeastern United States. The shaking occurred at 9:50 p.m....
was to occur again in South Carolina. It was projected that large parts of the Columbia, SC metropolitan region (encompassing around 135,000 people) would have been in the flood region if the original dam was damaged.
During construction, workers laid 18590 cubic yards (14,213.1 m³) of roller-compacted concrete in one day, setting a North American record. The total fill for the back up dam is 1300000 cubic yards (993,921.3 m³). Because of this and the worker's "...proactive approach to protecting the surrounding communities, and the innovative methods they implemented to achieve that goal...", it received the 2006 American Society of Civil Engineers
American Society of Civil Engineers
The American Society of Civil Engineers is a professional body founded in 1852 to represent members of the civil engineering profession worldwide. It is the oldest national engineering society in the United States. ASCE's vision is to have engineers positioned as global leaders who strive toward...
Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award.