Carnes Lake Dam dam
Carnes Lake Dam
Carnes Lake Dam, located in Lancaster, South Carolina, is a private-owned structure built in 1958 with a primary purpose of recreational use. Standing at a height of 17 feet and spanning a length of 340 feet, this earthen dam boasts a storage capacity of 52 acre-feet and is primarily designed as a buttress dam. Situated on the banks of the Otter Creek, the dam is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC) and undergoes regular state inspections to ensure its safety and compliance with regulatory standards.
Despite its low hazard potential, Carnes Lake Dam has been assessed to be in poor condition as of the last inspection in October 2017. With a moderate risk rating of 3, the dam poses some level of concern that necessitates the implementation of risk management measures to mitigate potential hazards. While the dam's emergency action plan status and inundation maps remain unlisted, its current state raises the importance of proactive maintenance and monitoring to ensure the safety of downstream communities and the preservation of the surrounding ecosystem. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Carnes Lake Dam serves as a focal point for understanding the intersection of human infrastructure with natural water systems and the ongoing challenges of managing and maintaining these vital resources in a changing climate.
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 Carnes Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Waxhaw Creek At Sr1103 Near Jackson | 1 cfs | → |
| Catawba River Below Catawba | 985 cfs | → |
| Fishing Creek Below Fort Lawn | 41 cfs | → |
| Four Mile Creek Near Pineville | 4 cfs | → |
| Goose Creek At Sr1525 Nr Indian Trail | 2 cfs | → |
| Mcalpine Cr Below Mcmullen Cr Nr Pineville | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Carnes Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Catawba Nation Greenway Trail York County
- Lancaster County
- Waterford Trail Rock Hill
- Piedmont Medical Center Trail York County
- Green Road Lancaster County
- New Gray Rock Road Tega Cay
Campgrounds
- Cane Creek Park
- Andrew Jackson State Park
- Williams Farm
- Sign Language
- Ebenezer County Park
- Mcdowell Nature Preserve
Fishing spots
- Buck Branch
- Arrowhead Lake
- Mountain Island Park Fishing Access
- Blewett Falls Lake Grassy Island
- Baldwins Pond
- Pittman Lake
Track Carnes 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 Carnes Lake Dam
Where does the data for Carnes 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 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 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 Carnes Lake Dam.