Lake Crawford Dam dam
Lake Crawford Dam
Lake Crawford Dam, located in York, South Carolina, is a state-owned structure built in 1949 for the primary purpose of recreation. This gravity dam, with a height of 19 feet and a length of 450 feet, provides a storage capacity of 172 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 20 acres. Despite being classified as low hazard potential, the dam is regularly inspected by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control to ensure its fair condition and safety.
Situated on the Clark Fork River within the Wilmington District, Lake Crawford Dam offers residents and visitors a picturesque setting for recreational activities. With its tranquil waters and surrounding natural beauty, the dam serves as a popular spot for fishing, boating, and other outdoor leisure pursuits. Although the dam has not undergone any major modifications in recent years, its importance in providing water resources and enhancing the local environment cannot be understated.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the maintenance and regulation of dams like Lake Crawford Dam become increasingly vital. With its state jurisdiction, regular inspections, and low hazard potential, the dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water management practices in the face of evolving environmental challenges. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Lake Crawford Dam serves as a case study in the intersection of recreation, conservation, and resilience in the midst of a 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 Lake Crawford Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Broad River Below Cherokee Falls | 576 cfs | → |
| Long Creek Near Bessemer City | 5 cfs | → |
| Broad River Near Gaffney | 1,890 cfs | → |
| Broad River Near Blacksburg | 497 cfs | → |
| South Fork Catawba River At Lowell | 207 cfs | → |
| Indian Creek Near Laboratory | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Crawford Dam.
Boat launches
- Lakeshore Drive Cleveland County
- John H. Moss Lake Recreation Park
- First Broad River Trail Shelby
- Copperhead Island Mecklenburg County
- Soldier Road 15299, Mecklenburg County
- Boatshore Road York County
Campgrounds
- Kings Mountain State Park
- Garner Creek
- Garner Creek Backcountry Campsite
- Hounds Gateway Campground
- John H. Moss Lake City Campground
- Shelby Mission Camp
Fishing spots
- Mountain Island Park Fishing Access
- Pittman Lake
- Johns Creek Lake
- Sedalia Lake
- Macedonia Lake
- Benfield Creek
Track Lake Crawford 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 Lake Crawford Dam
Where does the data for Lake Crawford 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 Lake Crawford Dam.