Mirror Lakes Dam 2 dam
Mirror Lakes Dam 2
Mirror Lakes Dam 2 is a privately owned structure located in Chester, South Carolina, along the TR-SANDY RIVER. Completed in 1947, this earth dam stands at a height of 14 feet and has a length of 465 feet, providing a storage capacity of 88 acre-feet for recreational purposes. Despite its significance for recreation, the dam is currently assessed as being in poor condition, with a significant hazard potential, as per the last inspection in February 2019.
Managed by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), Mirror Lakes Dam 2 is subject to state regulations, permitting, inspections, and enforcement. The dam's emergency action plan (EAP) was last revised in 1994, raising concerns about its readiness in case of an emergency. With its location in a high-risk area, it is crucial for stakeholders to prioritize risk management measures and ensure the safety and integrity of the dam to prevent any potential disasters or emergencies.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to recognize the importance of maintaining and monitoring dam infrastructure like Mirror Lakes Dam 2 to safeguard the surrounding communities and the environment. By addressing the poor condition assessment and significant hazard potential, stakeholders can work towards implementing necessary risk management measures and ensuring the dam's structural integrity for continued recreational use and protection against potential emergencies.
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 Mirror Lakes Dam 2 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wildcat Creek Below Rock Hill | 51 cfs | → |
| Broad River Near Carlisle | 3,740 cfs | → |
| Fishing Creek Below Fort Lawn | 193 cfs | → |
| Catawba River Below Catawba | 2,270 cfs | → |
| Rocky Creek At Great Falls | 126 cfs | → |
| Catawba River Near Rockhill | 866 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mirror Lakes Dam 2.
Boat launches
- Lancaster County
- Waterford Trail Rock Hill
- Piedmont Medical Center Trail York County
- Boatshore Road York County
- Windward Drive Tega Cay
- Catawba Nation Greenway Trail York County
Campgrounds
- Chester State Park
- Poulous Loop Group Camp
- Woods Ferry Recreation Area
- Woods Ferry
- Rocky Branch Seasonal Camp
- Ebenezer County Park
Track Mirror Lakes Dam 2 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 Mirror Lakes Dam 2
Where does the data for Mirror Lakes Dam 2 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 Mirror Lakes Dam 2.