Hammett Lake Dam dam
Hammett Lake Dam
Hammett Lake Dam, also known as Goucher Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Cherokee, South Carolina, along Goucher Creek. Built in 1963 by the USDA NRCS, this earth-type dam stands at a height of 36 feet and stretches 350 feet in length, providing flood risk reduction for the area. With a storage capacity of 739 acre-feet, the dam serves as a vital resource for water management in the region.
Managed by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Hammett Lake Dam is regularly inspected and regulated to ensure its safety and effectiveness. Despite its fair condition assessment in 2020, the dam is considered to have a significant hazard potential, prompting a moderate risk assessment. With an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, the dam plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks and protecting the surrounding communities from potential water-related disasters.
As a key component of the local water infrastructure, Hammett Lake Dam serves as a testament to the collaboration between private owners, government agencies, and conservation services in safeguarding water resources and managing climate-related challenges. Its strategic location and design make it a vital structure for flood risk reduction, highlighting the importance of effective water management in the face of changing environmental 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 Hammett Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lawsons Fork Creek At Spartanburg Sc | 29 cfs | → |
| Pacolet River Below Lake Blalock Near Cowpens | 88 cfs | → |
| Broad River Near Gaffney | 1,890 cfs | → |
| Broad River Near Blacksburg | 338 cfs | → |
| Broad River Below Cherokee Falls | 576 cfs | → |
| Broad River Near Boiling Springs | 392 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hammett Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Sandy Ford Road 1925, Chesnee
- Anchor Park
- Berry Shoals Road 370, Spartanburg County
- First Broad River Trail Shelby
- John H. Moss Lake Recreation Park
- Lakeshore Drive Cleveland County
Campgrounds
- Croft State Natural Area
- Garner Creek Backcountry Campsite
- Garner Creek
- Poulous Loop Group Camp
- Shelby Mission Camp
- Sedalia Campground
Fishing spots
Track Hammett Lake 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 Hammett Lake Dam
Where does the data for Hammett Lake 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 Significant 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 Hammett Lake Dam.