Emerald Lake Dam dam
Emerald Lake Dam
Emerald Lake Dam, located in York, South Carolina, is a privately owned structure that serves primarily for recreation purposes. This earthen dam, with a height of 13 feet and a length of 815 feet, creates a storage capacity of 120 acre-feet and a surface area of 12 acres on TR-Sixmile Creek. Despite its modest size, the dam poses a high hazard potential and has been classified as in poor condition based on a 2019 inspection.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) regulates and inspects Emerald Lake Dam, ensuring compliance with state standards. While the dam has an uncontrolled spillway type and no associated locks, its poor condition and high hazard potential highlight the importance of ongoing risk management measures. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, there is a need for continued monitoring and potential upgrades to enhance the safety and resilience of this recreational water resource in the face of changing climate conditions.
In conclusion, Emerald Lake Dam provides a unique recreational opportunity in South Carolina but also presents challenges in terms of maintenance and risk management. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to stay informed about the condition and regulation of such structures to ensure the safety of both the environment and the community. By understanding the complexities of dams like Emerald Lake, we can work towards sustainable solutions that balance recreational enjoyment with environmental stewardship in the face of a changing climate.
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 Emerald Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Catawba River Below Catawba | 2,600 cfs | → |
| Catawba River Near Rockhill | 1,000 cfs | → |
| Waxhaw Creek At Sr1103 Near Jackson | 1 cfs | → |
| Wildcat Creek Below Rock Hill | 5 cfs | → |
| Mcalpine Cr Below Mcmullen Cr Nr Pineville | 7 cfs | → |
| Little Sugar Creek At Pineville | 37 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Emerald Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Catawba Nation Greenway Trail York County
- Waterford Trail Rock Hill
- Piedmont Medical Center Trail York County
- New Gray Rock Road Tega Cay
- Windward Drive Tega Cay
- Boatshore Road York County
Campgrounds
- Sign Language
- Andrew Jackson State Park
- Ebenezer County Park
- Cane Creek Park
- Mcdowell Nature Preserve
- Chester State Park
Track Emerald 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 Emerald Lake Dam
Where does the data for Emerald 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 Emerald Lake Dam.