Merritts Pond dam
Merritts Pond
Merritts Pond in Pickens, South Carolina, is a privately-owned recreational reservoir designed by the USDA NRCS and regulated by the SC DHEC. Built in 1972, this earth dam stands at a height of 28 feet and spans 475 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 68 acre-feet. The pond covers a surface area of 5 acres and is primarily utilized for recreational purposes, offering a serene setting for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy.
Despite its fair condition assessment, Merritts Pond poses a high hazard potential due to its uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates. With a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam is inspected biennially to ensure its structural integrity and safety measures are up to standard. The surrounding area is at risk of inundation in the event of a breach, emphasizing the importance of ongoing risk management and emergency preparedness protocols for this water resource.
Situated along the TR-THREE AND TWENTY CREEK, Merritts Pond serves as a vital water source in the region and contributes to the overall ecosystem health. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and conservation efforts for Merritts Pond are crucial in ensuring its continued function and safety for both recreational and environmental purposes.
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 Merritts Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Saluda River Near Greenville | 134 cfs | → |
| Twelvemile Creek Near Liberty | 38 cfs | → |
| Reedy River Near Greenville | 19 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Williamston | 173 cfs | → |
| Brushy Creek Near Greenville | 4 cfs | → |
| Reedy River Above Fork Shoals | 78 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Merritts Pond.
Boat launches
- Buckskin Road Pickens County
- Arden Road Greenville County
- Denver Road Anderson County
- Crow Creek Access Road Pickens County
- Knox Road Anderson County
- High Falls Road Oconee County
Campgrounds
- Paris Mountain State Park
- Twin Lakes - Hartwell Lake
- Mile Creek County Park
- Table Rock State Park
- High Falls County Park
- Oconee Point - Hartwell Lake
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters Just East Of Hwy 107 To Crossing Of Norton Field Road (Fs 715a)
- Beginning Just Upstream Of Townes Creek,Wash Branch And Crane Creek To Confluence With Kings Creek
- 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
- 1/4 Mile Below Walhalla Fish Hatchery To Boundary Of Chattooga Wsr
Track Merritts Pond 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 Merritts Pond
Where does the data for Merritts Pond 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 Merritts Pond.