Cheryl Templeton Dam dam
Cheryl Templeton Dam
Cheryl Templeton Dam, located in Lexington, South Carolina, is a privately-owned structure that serves primarily for recreation purposes. Completed in 1959, this earth dam stands at a height of 19 feet and stretches for 460 feet along Horsepen Creek. With a storage capacity of 125 acre-feet and a surface area of 12 acres, the dam provides a serene setting for outdoor activities and water-based recreation.
Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Cheryl Templeton Dam is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and has an inspection frequency of 5 years. In the event of an emergency, the dam's risk assessment is considered moderate, with measures in place to manage any potential risks. The structure's safety and stability are critical to maintaining the surrounding ecosystem and ensuring the safety of nearby residents.
Managed by private owners, Cheryl Templeton Dam remains a picturesque landmark in the region, offering opportunities for anglers, boaters, and nature enthusiasts to enjoy the beauty of Horsepen Creek. With its historical significance and recreational value, this dam serves as a vital component of the local water resource infrastructure while also contributing to the resilience of the surrounding ecosystem in the face of changing climate conditions.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Cheryl Templeton Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mctier Creek (Rd 209) Near Monetta | 7 cfs | → |
| Bush River Nr Prosperity | 169 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Below Lk Murray Dam Nr Columbia | 764 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Columbia | 1,190 cfs | → |
| Little River Nr Silverstreet | 231 cfs | → |
| Broad River At Alston | 3,640 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cheryl Templeton Dam.
Boat launches
- Sandlapper Way 159, Lexington County
- Cabana Way Lexington County
- Eastshore Drive 143, Lexington County
- 844 Riverbend Point, Leesville, Sc 29070
- Shull Island Boat Ramp
- Sassafras Lane Newberry County
Campgrounds
- Dreher Island State Rec Area
- Aiken State Park
- Woodmen Of The World Park
- Boggy Campground
- Faulkner Mountain Campground
- Lick Fork Lake
Fishing spots
Track Cheryl Templeton Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Cheryl Templeton Dam
Where does the data for Cheryl Templeton Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Cheryl Templeton Dam.