Emmett Davis Dam dam
Emmett Davis Dam
Emmett Davis Dam, located in McCormick, South Carolina, is a privately owned Earth dam that was completed in 1920. The dam stands at a height of 20 feet and has a length of 550 feet, creating a reservoir with a maximum storage capacity of 189 acre-feet. The primary purpose of the dam is for recreation, offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy activities such as boating, fishing, and wildlife observation in the picturesque surroundings.
Despite its low hazard potential, Emmett Davis Dam has been rated as having a poor condition assessment, with a moderate risk level. The dam is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled, and outlet gates are also uncontrolled, emphasizing the need for continued monitoring and maintenance to prevent potential risks and ensure the safety of the surrounding community.
Although Emmett Davis Dam may face challenges in terms of its condition assessment and risk level, it remains a valuable resource for water recreation enthusiasts in South Carolina. With its historic significance and scenic location on Goatneck Branch, the dam serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and managing water resources effectively to protect both the environment and public safety.
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 Emmett Davis Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little River Near Mt. Carmel | 1,120 cfs | → |
| Stevens Creek Near Modoc | 585 cfs | → |
| Lake Greenwood Tailrace Nr Chappells | 4,240 cfs | → |
| Saluda River At Chappells | 4,110 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Ware Shoals | 1,590 cfs | → |
| Broad River Near Bell | 1,550 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Emmett Davis Dam.
Boat launches
- Highway 28, Mccormick
- State Road S-33-277, Mccormick
- Long Cane Creek Boat Ramps
- Baker Creek Ramp Drive Mccormick County
- Bakers Creek Boat Ramp
- Little River Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Baker Creek State Park
- Morrow Bridge And Midway Seasonal Camps
- Parsons Mountain Lake
- Hawe Creek - Strom Thurmond Lake
- Hickory Knob State Resort Park
- Elijah Clark State Park
Fishing spots
- Parsons Mountain Lake
- Cherokee Creek
- Lick Fork Lake
- J. Strom Thurmond Reservoir
- Cliatt Creek
- Richard B Russell Lake
Track Emmett Davis 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 Emmett Davis Dam
Where does the data for Emmett Davis 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 Emmett Davis Dam.