Huel Bailey Dam dam
Huel Bailey Dam
Huel Bailey Dam, located in Lancaster, South Carolina, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1965 with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam stands at a height of 19 feet and has a length of 625 feet, creating a reservoir with a maximum storage capacity of 65 acre-feet. While the dam is classified as low hazard potential, its current condition is assessed as poor, highlighting the need for maintenance and potential improvements to ensure its long-term stability and safety.
Despite its poor condition assessment, Huel Bailey Dam remains a popular destination for recreational activities in the area. The dam is situated on the TR-HORTON CREEK river/stream and offers a surface area of 9 acres for visitors to enjoy. With a moderate risk assessment level of 3, there is a recognition of the potential challenges faced by the dam and the need for effective risk management measures to be put in place. The dam is inspected every 5 years, with the last assessment conducted in October 2017.
Owned privately and regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), Huel Bailey Dam serves as a vital recreational resource for the community. While its condition may be a concern, the dam's historical significance and contribution to the local ecosystem make it a valuable asset worth preserving for future generations of water resource and climate enthusiasts to appreciate and enjoy.
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 Huel Bailey Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Creek At Great Falls | 270 cfs | → |
| Fishing Creek Below Fort Lawn | 457 cfs | → |
| Waxhaw Creek At Sr1103 Near Jackson | 1 cfs | → |
| Catawba River Below Catawba | 1,770 cfs | → |
| Wateree River Nr. Camden | 3,960 cfs | → |
| Black Creek Near Mcbee | 43 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Huel Bailey Dam.
Boat launches
- Green Road Lancaster County
- Lancaster County
- Buck Hill Landing Road Kershaw County
- West Dekalb Street Lugoff
- Catawba Nation Greenway Trail York County
Campgrounds
- Wateree Military
- Cane Creek Park
- Lake Wateree State Rec Area
- Andrew Jackson State Park
- Camp Longridge
- Williams Farm
Fishing spots
Track Huel Bailey 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 Huel Bailey Dam
Where does the data for Huel Bailey 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 Huel Bailey Dam.