Finleys Lake Dam dam
Finleys Lake Dam
Finleys Lake Dam, located in Pickens, South Carolina, serves as a crucial structure for flood risk reduction along the TR-North Fork Twelvemile Creek. Built in 1956, this earth dam stands at a height of 48 feet and stretches 440 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 174 acre-feet. Despite its primary purpose of flood risk reduction, the dam also provides recreational opportunities in its surrounding 10-acre surface area.
With a hazard potential deemed high and a poor condition assessment as of March 2020, Finleys Lake Dam requires regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity. Managed by a private owner, the dam falls under South Carolina DHEC's regulatory jurisdiction, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement mechanisms in place. Additionally, the dam's emergency action plan is outdated, highlighting the need for updated risk management measures to mitigate potential risks effectively.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Finleys Lake Dam presents a case study in the intersection of infrastructure development, environmental conservation, and public safety. As discussions around dam safety and maintenance continue to evolve, the importance of proactive risk assessment and management for structures like Finleys Lake Dam becomes increasingly evident in safeguarding communities and ecosystems against potential hazards and disasters.
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 Finleys Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Saluda River Near Cleveland | 12 cfs | → |
| Twelvemile Creek Near Liberty | 156 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Rosman | 2,420 cfs | → |
| Middle Saluda River Near Cleveland | 81 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Greenville | 473 cfs | → |
| Davidson River Near Brevard | 550 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Finleys Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Crow Creek Access Road Pickens County
- Cabin Road 398, Pickens County
- Landing Road Oconee County
- Fall Creek Landing
- White Oak Hill Road Oconee County
- Devils Fork Road Oconee County
Campgrounds
- Table Rock State Park
- Cantrell Campsite
- Virginia Hawkins Campsite
- Keowee - Toxaway State Natural Area
- Laurel Fork Campsite
- Rock Creek Campsite
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Sloan's Bridge Crossing, Crossing Of Sc 107
- Sloan's Bridge Crossing To 1/4 Mile Above The Walhalla Fish Hatchery
- 1/4 Mile Above The Walhalla Fish Hatchery To 1/4 Mile Below The Walhalla Fish Hatchery
- Beginning Just Upstream Of Townes Creek,Wash Branch And Crane Creek To Confluence With Kings Creek
- Headwaters Just East Of Hwy 107 To Crossing Of Norton Field Road (Fs 715a)
- 1/4 Mile Below Walhalla Fish Hatchery To Boundary Of Chattooga Wsr
Track Finleys 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 Finleys Lake Dam
Where does the data for Finleys 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 Finleys Lake Dam.