Thompson Pond Dam dam
Thompson Pond Dam
Thompson Pond Dam, located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, was completed in 1959 and is primarily used for recreation. Managed by a private owner, the dam stands at 28 feet high and spans 475 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 75 acre-feet. Despite its scenic setting on the TR-Ezell Branch, the dam's condition assessment is rated as poor, with a high hazard potential. The last inspection in May 2019 revealed the need for significant improvements to ensure the safety and stability of the structure.
The dam, constructed with an earth core and stone foundation, is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and undergoes regular inspections to monitor its integrity. With an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, there are concerns about the dam's ability to manage potential flood events effectively. The risk assessment for Thompson Pond Dam is moderate, indicating the need for proactive risk management measures to mitigate the potential consequences of a dam failure. Given its importance for recreation and the surrounding ecosystem, addressing the dam's poor condition and high hazard potential is crucial for ensuring the safety of the community and the preservation of the water resources in the area.
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 Thompson Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pacolet River Near Fingerville | 75 cfs | → |
| North Pacolet River At Fingerville | 50 cfs | → |
| Pacolet River Below Lake Blalock Near Cowpens | 88 cfs | → |
| Broad River Near Boiling Springs | 265 cfs | → |
| South Pacolet River Nr Campobello | 19 cfs | → |
| Lawsons Fork Creek At Spartanburg Sc | 28 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Thompson Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Sandy Ford Road 1925, Chesnee
- Anchor Park
- First Broad River Trail Shelby
- Berry Shoals Road 370, Spartanburg County
- John H. Moss Lake Recreation Park
- J. Verne Smith Park (Lake Robinson)
Campgrounds
- Croft State Natural Area
- Shelby Mission Camp
- River Creek Camp Ground
- John H. Moss Lake City Campground
- Vein Mountain Gold Camp & Carolina Emerald Mine
- Garner Creek Backcountry Campsite
Fishing spots
- Johns Creek Lake
- Sedalia Lake
- Macedonia Lake
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Pittman Lake
- Mountain Island Park Fishing Access
Paddle runs
- Linville Wilderness Boundary To Lake James
- Mills River From Confluence Of North/South Forks To Confluence With Foster Creek
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork
- North Fork From Bottom Of Spillway Of Hendersonville Reservoir To Confluence With South Fork
- South Fork From Confluence With Pigeon Br To Nf Boundary
- Linville Gorge Wilderness Boundary To Southern End Of Wilderness
Track Thompson Pond 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 Thompson Pond Dam
Where does the data for Thompson Pond 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 Thompson Pond Dam.