York County Dam
York County Dam
York County Dam, also known as Landfill Dam, is a local government-owned structure located in York, South Carolina. Built in 1962 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 21 feet and a length of 1075 feet, serving primarily as a recreational area along the LANGHAM BRANCH river or stream. Despite its poor condition assessment in 2017, with a low hazard potential, the dam continues to provide a surface area of 10 acres for outdoor activities and leisure.
Managed by the SC DHEC, the dam is state-regulated and permitted, ensuring regular inspections and enforcement to maintain its safety standards. While it features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, its maximum storage capacity of 90 acre-feet and normal storage of 78 acre-feet make it a valuable resource for water management in the region. With a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam poses a manageable level of risk, making it an essential component of the local water infrastructure.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, York County Dam presents an intriguing case study of a locally managed structure with a mix of recreational and functional purposes. As a product of federal and state collaboration, the dam showcases the importance of regulatory oversight and maintenance in ensuring the safety and sustainability of water resources. Its history, design features, and risk management measures provide valuable insights into the intersection of water infrastructure, environmental protection, and public recreation in the context of changing climate patterns and evolving regulatory frameworks.
Inside the reservoir
The real shoreline of this water body, with a depth model scaled so the basin holds exactly its recorded storage. Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom, and use the slider to drain and refill it. Click anywhere on the basin for the modelled depth there.
How this is built. The shoreline is the National Hydrography
Dataset polygon for this water body,
matched to the dam by proximity and confirmed by comparing its area with the
National Inventory of Dams surface area (agreement 1.38×).
Depth is modelled, not surveyed: the basin is shaped by distance from
shore — deep in open water, shallow in the bays — and scaled so its
volume equals the recorded storage. No national bathymetric survey exists for
US reservoirs. Treat the shoreline, area and volume as measured, and the depth
distribution as an informed approximation.
Above normal pool, water is shown rising within the normal-pool
shoreline. Where it would actually spread depends on the surrounding
terrain, which is not modelled here — a reservoir in a steep canyon barely
widens, one on flat ground can spread a long way. This is a depth and volume
figure, not an inundation map. Official inundation mapping for a dam
comes from its Emergency Action Plan.
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 York County Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Tyger River Below Duncan | 34 cfs | → |
| Middle Tyger River Near Lyman | 12 cfs | → |
| Enoree River At Pelham | 44 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Creek Above Greer | 14 cfs | → |
| Brushy Creek Near Greenville | 3 cfs | → |
| Middle Tyger River Near Gramling | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near York County Dam.
Boat launches
See all →
Campgrounds
See all →
Fishing spots
See all →
River runs
See all →
About York County Dam
Where does the data for York County 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 below 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.
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.
Create a free account, or sign in.
Get the free York County Dam report — alerts, favorites, and history & forecasts, plus the free iPhone app.