John's Creek Dam dam
John's Creek Dam
John's Creek Dam, located in Union, South Carolina, is a Federal-owned structure managed by the USDA Forest Service. Completed in 1991, this Earth-type dam serves primarily as a Fish and Wildlife Pond, with secondary purposes including recreation. Standing at a height of 25 feet and a length of 400 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 32 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 932 cubic feet per second.
With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, John's Creek Dam is deemed to be in satisfactory condition, though it has not been officially rated. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 20 feet and is inspected approximately every 10 years, with the last inspection conducted in October 2015. Despite the lack of a formal Emergency Action Plan (EAP), the dam is equipped with uncontrolled outlet gates and has a history of stable operations under the oversight of the Forest Service.
Enthusiasts interested in water resource management and climate impact can appreciate John's Creek Dam as a vital component of the local ecosystem, providing essential habitat for fish and wildlife while offering recreational opportunities for the community. As a Federal structure with a history of responsible management by the Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, John's Creek Dam stands as a testament to sustainable infrastructure development in South Carolina.
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 John's Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Enoree River At Whitmire | 121 cfs | → |
| Tyger River Near Delta | 333 cfs | → |
| Enoree River Near Woodruff | 120 cfs | → |
| Broad River Near Carlisle | 916 cfs | → |
| South Rabon Creek Near Gray Court | 7 cfs | → |
| Lawsons Fork Creek At Spartanburg Sc | 30 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near John's Creek Dam.
Boat launches
- Berry Shoals Road 370, Spartanburg County
- Garlington Drive Laurens County
- Broad River Road Newberry County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track John's Creek 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 John's Creek Dam
Where does the data for John's Creek 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 John's Creek Dam.