Misty Lake Dam dam
Misty Lake Dam
Misty Lake Dam, located in Lexington, South Carolina, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1935 for recreational purposes. With a height of 28 feet and a length of 650 feet, the dam creates a reservoir with a storage capacity of 205 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the TR-Congaree Creek and is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).
Despite its recreational significance, Misty Lake Dam poses a high hazard potential and has been rated as being in poor condition during its last inspection in 2017. The dam lacks essential structural features such as spillways and outlet gates, increasing the risk of inundation in case of a breach. The inspection frequency is set at every 2 years, indicating the importance of regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure public safety and environmental protection.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is crucial to keep a close eye on Misty Lake Dam and advocate for necessary repairs and improvements to mitigate potential risks. By staying informed about the dam's condition, hazard potential, and regulatory oversight, we can contribute to the preservation of this valuable water resource and the protection of downstream communities and ecosystems along the TR-Congaree Creek.
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 Misty Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Saluda River Below Lk Murray Dam Nr Columbia | 759 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Columbia | 830 cfs | → |
| Congaree River At Columbia | 2,320 cfs | → |
| Smith Branch At North Main St At Columbia | 2 cfs | → |
| Gills Creek At Columbia | 13 cfs | → |
| Mctier Creek (Rd 209) Near Monetta | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Misty Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Cabana Way Lexington County
- Sandlapper Way 159, Lexington County
- Eastshore Drive 143, Lexington County
- Highway 6 6, Columbia
- Shull Island Boat Ramp
- Cove Launch Court Lexington County
Campgrounds
- Woodmen Of The World Park
- Dreher Island State Rec Area
- Longleaf Campground
- Sesquicentennial State Park
- Bluff Campground
- Weston Lake Military - Fort Jackson
Track Misty 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 Misty Lake Dam
Where does the data for Misty 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 Misty Lake Dam.