Cliffs Valley Dam dam
Cliffs Valley Dam
Located in Greenville, South Carolina, the Cliffs Valley Dam, also known as The Cliffs Dam, is a private dam designed for flood risk reduction along the TR-Terry Creek. Completed in 2002, this Earth dam stands at a height of 40 feet with a length of 231 feet, providing a storage capacity of 275 acre-feet. With a primary purpose of flood risk reduction, the dam also serves as a recreational area for enthusiasts to enjoy.
Managed by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC), the Cliffs Valley Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the state to ensure its safety and integrity. With a hazard potential rated as high and a fair condition assessment, the dam is equipped with emergency action plans and regular inspections to mitigate risks and address any potential issues. The presence of associated structures and a designated emergency management plan further enhance the dam's preparedness for any unforeseen events.
From its stone core foundation to its soil base, the Cliffs Valley Dam exemplifies a harmonious blend of engineering and environmental stewardship. With its strategic location and design, this dam stands as a testament to the importance of water resource management and climate resilience in safeguarding communities against potential flooding events. As a focal point for both flood risk reduction and recreation, the Cliffs Valley Dam symbolizes the balance between human development and environmental conservation in the face of changing climatic conditions.
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 Cliffs Valley Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Saluda River Near Cleveland | 16 cfs | → |
| South Saluda River Near Cleveland | 5 cfs | → |
| Middle Tyger River Near Gramling | 7 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Blantyre | 257 cfs | → |
| Davidson River Near Brevard | 32 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Creek Above Greer | 14 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cliffs Valley Dam.
Boat launches
- J. Verne Smith Park (Lake Robinson)
- Pisgah Forest Access Brevard
- Hooper Lane Mills River
- Buckskin Road Pickens County
- Anchor Park
Campgrounds
- Pleasant Ridge County Park
- Camp Burgess Glen Lake
- Black Forest Family Camping Resort
- Paris Mountain State Park
- Table Rock State Park
- Davidson River Recreation Area
Fishing spots
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Bear Creek Lake
- Presbyterian Lake
- Bailey Branch
- Anderson Branch
- Big Pine Creek
Paddle runs
- South Fork From Confluence With Pigeon Br To Nf Boundary
- 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
- Dark Prong From Headwaters To Confluence East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
- East Fork From Us Highway 276 To Confluence Of Dark Prong And Yellowstone Prong
Track Cliffs Valley 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 Cliffs Valley Dam
Where does the data for Cliffs Valley 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 Cliffs Valley Dam.