Lake Calton Dam dam
Lake Calton Dam
Lake Calton Dam, located in Pickens, South Carolina, is a privately owned structure primarily used for recreational purposes. This earth dam, completed in 1958, stands at a height of 39 feet and spans 385 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 129 acre-feet. The dam is situated on TR-Crow Creek and is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
With a high hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Lake Calton Dam poses a significant risk in the event of a failure. The dam's emergency action plan was last revised in February 2021, and it meets the necessary guidelines for risk management. Despite its current condition, the dam is regularly inspected every two years to ensure its structural integrity and safety measures are up to date.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Lake Calton Dam to be a fascinating case study in dam infrastructure and risk management. Situated in a picturesque location, this dam serves as a vital recreational resource while also highlighting the importance of maintaining and monitoring such structures to prevent potential hazards and ensure public safety.
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 Lake Calton Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Twelvemile Creek Near Liberty | 156 cfs | → |
| South Saluda River Near Cleveland | 12 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Rosman | 2,420 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Greenville | 473 cfs | → |
| Middle Saluda River Near Cleveland | 81 cfs | → |
| Davidson River Near Brevard | 550 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Calton 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
- Keowee - Toxaway State Natural Area
- Mile Creek County Park
- Devils Fork State Park
- Virginia Hawkins Campsite
- Laurel Fork Campsite
- Cantrell Campsite
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Sloan's Bridge Crossing, Crossing Of Sc 107
- Beginning Just Upstream Of Townes Creek,Wash Branch And Crane Creek To Confluence With Kings Creek
- Sloan's Bridge Crossing To 1/4 Mile Above The Walhalla Fish Hatchery
- Headwaters Just East Of Hwy 107 To Crossing Of Norton Field Road (Fs 715a)
- 1/4 Mile Above The Walhalla Fish Hatchery To 1/4 Mile Below The Walhalla Fish Hatchery
- 1/4 Mile Below Walhalla Fish Hatchery To Boundary Of Chattooga Wsr
Track Lake Calton 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 Lake Calton Dam
Where does the data for Lake Calton 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 Lake Calton Dam.