Heritage Lake Dam dam
Heritage Lake Dam
Heritage Lake Dam in South Carolina, completed in 1980, stands as a vital structure along the TR-SUGAR CREEK river. Owned privately, the dam serves a primary purpose of recreation, offering a serene oasis for water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy. With a height of 34 feet and a length of 300 feet, the dam boasts a storage capacity of 181 acre-feet, providing ample space for outdoor activities in its 17-acre surface area.
Despite its recreational allure, Heritage Lake Dam poses a significant hazard potential, with a poor condition assessment as of December 2019. The dam is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure public safety. The high hazard potential underscores the importance of regular maintenance and risk management measures to mitigate potential dangers associated with the dam.
For those interested in water resource management and climate resilience, Heritage Lake Dam represents a critical infrastructure that requires ongoing attention and vigilance. With its earth dam construction and stone core, the dam serves as both a recreational haven and a potential source of risk, highlighting the complex interplay between human activities and natural systems. As efforts continue to maintain and monitor the dam, it serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between harnessing water resources for leisure and safeguarding against environmental hazards in an ever-changing climate landscape.
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 Heritage Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar Creek At Nc 51 Near Pineville | 37 cfs | → |
| Mcalpine Cr Below Mcmullen Cr Nr Pineville | 6 cfs | → |
| Little Sugar Creek At Pineville | 20 cfs | → |
| Steele Creek At Sr1441 Nr Pineville | 1 cfs | → |
| Four Mile Creek Near Pineville | 3 cfs | → |
| Coffey Creek Nr Charlotte | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Heritage Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- New Gray Rock Road Tega Cay
- Piedmont Medical Center Trail York County
- Soldier Road 15299, Mecklenburg County
- Windward Drive Tega Cay
- Copperhead Island Mecklenburg County
- Waterford Trail Rock Hill
Campgrounds
- Sign Language
- Mcdowell Nature Preserve
- Ebenezer County Park
- Andrew Jackson State Park
- Cane Creek Park
- Kings Mountain State Park
Fishing spots
- Mountain Island Park Fishing Access
- Buck Branch
- Pittman Lake
- Arrowhead Lake
- Abbotts Creek
- Badin Lake Lakemont Rd
Paddle runs
Track Heritage 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 Heritage Lake Dam
Where does the data for Heritage 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 High 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 Heritage Lake Dam.