Lake Frances Dam dam
Lake Frances Dam
Lake Frances Dam, located in York, South Carolina, serves as a vital irrigation source and recreational spot. Built in 1949, this private-owned earth dam stands at a height of 27 feet and spans 560 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 78 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is marked as poor, signaling a need for further inspection and potential maintenance.
The dam overlooks the picturesque Steele Creek, offering visitors a serene backdrop for various recreational activities. While the dam itself has a moderate risk assessment rating, its uncontrolled spillway and poor condition assessment raise concerns for potential safety issues. With state regulatory agencies overseeing its permitting, inspection, and enforcement, Lake Frances Dam remains a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in sustainable infrastructure management and risk mitigation measures.
As climate change continues to impact water resources, ensuring the safety and integrity of structures like Lake Frances Dam becomes crucial. With its historical significance and importance as an irrigation source, efforts to improve its condition and reduce risk are essential for both the local community and the environment. By prioritizing maintenance and implementing risk management measures, Lake Frances Dam can continue to serve its dual purpose of providing water for agriculture while offering a recreational oasis for visitors to 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 Lake Frances Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mcalpine Cr Below Mcmullen Cr Nr Pineville | 7 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek At Nc 51 Near Pineville | 39 cfs | → |
| Little Sugar Creek At Pineville | 22 cfs | → |
| Catawba River Near Rockhill | 853 cfs | → |
| Steele Creek At Sr1441 Nr Pineville | 1 cfs | → |
| Four Mile Creek Near Pineville | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Frances Dam.
Boat launches
- Piedmont Medical Center Trail York County
- New Gray Rock Road Tega Cay
- Waterford Trail Rock Hill
- Windward Drive Tega Cay
- Boatshore Road York County
- Soldier Road 15299, Mecklenburg County
Campgrounds
- Sign Language
- Ebenezer County Park
- Mcdowell Nature Preserve
- Andrew Jackson State Park
- Cane Creek Park
- Kings Mountain State Park
Fishing spots
- Mountain Island Park Fishing Access
- Buck Branch
- Pittman Lake
- Arrowhead Lake
- Abbotts Creek
- Johns Creek Lake
Paddle runs
Track Lake Frances 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 Frances Dam
Where does the data for Lake Frances 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 Lake Frances Dam.