Fishing Creek dam
Fishing Creek
Fishing Creek is a captivating hydroelectric dam located in Lancaster, South Carolina, along the Catawba River. Built in 1916 by Southern Power Company, this gravity-type dam stands at a height of 105 feet and has a length of 1840 feet. With a maximum storage capacity of 60,000 acre-feet and a surface area of 3370 acres, Fishing Creek plays a crucial role in providing hydroelectric power to the region.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Fishing Creek has a controlled spillway with a width of 1420 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 880,000 cubic feet per second. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is currently not available. The Emergency Action Plan for Fishing Creek was last revised in December 2020, emphasizing the importance of preparedness and risk management for this vital water resource.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will appreciate the historical significance and engineering marvel of Fishing Creek. As a key player in providing clean energy and regulating water flow along the Catawba River, this dam serves as a symbol of sustainable infrastructure in South Carolina. Its location in Great Falls, SC, amidst scenic surroundings, makes Fishing Creek a must-visit destination for those interested in the intersection of water management, energy production, and environmental conservation.
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 Fishing Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Creek At Great Falls | 8 cfs | → |
| Fishing Creek Below Fort Lawn | 24 cfs | → |
| Catawba River Below Catawba | 1,340 cfs | → |
| Waxhaw Creek At Sr1103 Near Jackson | 1 cfs | → |
| Wildcat Creek Below Rock Hill | 4 cfs | → |
| Catawba River Near Rockhill | 866 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fishing Creek .
Boat launches
- Green Road Lancaster County
- Lancaster County
- Buck Hill Landing Road Kershaw County
- Catawba Nation Greenway Trail York County
- Waterford Trail Rock Hill
- Piedmont Medical Center Trail York County
Campgrounds
- Lake Wateree State Rec Area
- Camp Longridge
- Andrew Jackson State Park
- Wateree Military
- Cane Creek Park
- Chester State Park
Track Fishing Creek 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 Fishing Creek
Where does the data for Fishing Creek 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 Fishing Creek .