Thrift Brothers Dam dam
Thrift Brothers Dam
Thrill-seeking water enthusiasts and climate advocates alike will be drawn to the captivating story of Thrift Brothers Dam, located in Oconee, South Carolina. Built in 1970 by the USDA NRCS, this private dam on the TR-CHAUGA RIVER stands at a height of 43 feet and stretches 350 feet in length. While its primary purpose is for recreation, the dam also serves as a vital storage facility with a capacity of 118 acre-feet, providing essential water resources for the surrounding area.
Despite its age, Thrift Brothers Dam has faced challenges in recent years, with a poor condition assessment in 2017 raising concerns about its structural integrity. Classified as having a low hazard potential but a moderate risk level, the dam is under the regulatory oversight of SC DHEC, ensuring that necessary inspections and enforcement measures are in place. With its uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, the dam presents a unique blend of recreation and risk, making it a fascinating site for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore and advocate for its maintenance and safety.
As visitors take in the scenic beauty of Thrift Brothers Dam and enjoy its recreational offerings, they are also reminded of the importance of sustainable water management practices and the need to address aging infrastructure to mitigate potential risks. With the support of regulatory agencies and ongoing assessments, Thrift Brothers Dam stands as a reminder of the delicate balance between human activity and environmental stewardship in safeguarding our water resources for future generations.
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 Thrift Brothers Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chattooga River Near Clayton | 210 cfs | → |
| Tallulah River Ab Powerhouse | 39 cfs | → |
| Tallulah River Near Clayton | 63 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee River Near Prentiss | 143 cfs | → |
| Twelvemile Creek Near Liberty | 42 cfs | → |
| Cartoogechaye Creek Near Franklin | 261 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Thrift Brothers Dam.
Boat launches
- High Falls Road Oconee County
- Devils Fork Road Oconee County
- White Oak Hill Road Oconee County
- Fall Creek Landing
- Landing Road Oconee County
- Cabin Road 398, Pickens County
Campgrounds
- Long Bottom Ford
- Oconee State Park
- Cassidy Bridge Hunt Camp
- Sandy Beach Campsite
- Sarahs Creek
- Sarah's Creek Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Earl's Ford To Route 76 (Section 3)
- Highway 28 To Earl's Ford (Section 2)
- Crpssing Of Land Bridge Road, Sc 196 To 1/4 Mile Below Fs 745 And Cassidy Bridge Hunt Camp
- Headwaters Just East Of Hwy 107 To Crossing Of Norton Field Road (Fs 715a)
- South Of Cedar Creek Rifle Range To Confluence With Chauga River
- 1/4 Mile Below Fs 745 And Cassidy Bridge Hunt Camp To Confluence Of Cedar Creek
Track Thrift Brothers 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 Thrift Brothers Dam
Where does the data for Thrift Brothers 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 Thrift Brothers Dam.