Lake Carostar Dam dam
Lake Carostar Dam
Lake Carostar Dam in Oconee, South Carolina, is a regulated structure overseen by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. With a height of 39 feet and a storage capacity of 75 acre-feet, this dam serves a vital purpose in managing water resources in the area. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition has been assessed as poor, indicating a need for maintenance and repair.
The last inspection of Lake Carostar Dam was conducted in December 2017, with a scheduled frequency of every 5 years. The dam poses a low risk according to current assessments, but its poor condition highlights the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its safety and functionality. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the proper management of dams like Lake Carostar Dam becomes increasingly critical for both water supply and flood control purposes.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to recognize the role that structures like Lake Carostar Dam play in the sustainable management of our natural resources. By staying informed about the condition and regulatory oversight of dams, we can contribute to the preservation and effective utilization of these crucial water management assets in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Carostar Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chattooga River Near Clayton | 210 cfs | → |
| Tallulah River Ab Powerhouse | 39 cfs | → |
| Tallulah River Near Clayton | 63 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee River Near Prentiss | 143 cfs | → |
| Cartoogechaye Creek Near Franklin | 261 cfs | → |
| Twelvemile Creek Near Liberty | 42 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Carostar Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Rabun Road Rabun County
- Stephens County
- High Falls Road Oconee County
- Mullins Ford Landing Road 205, Westminster
- Choestoea Road Oconee County
- Fall Creek Landing
Campgrounds
- Cassidy Bridge Hunt Camp
- Long Bottom Ford
- Oconee State Park
- Sarahs Creek
- Sarah's Creek Campground
- Chau Ram County Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Crpssing Of Land Bridge Road, Sc 196 To 1/4 Mile Below Fs 745 And Cassidy Bridge Hunt Camp
- South Of Cedar Creek Rifle Range To Confluence With Chauga River
- 1/4 Mile Below Fs 745 And Cassidy Bridge Hunt Camp To Confluence Of Cedar Creek
- Earl's Ford To Route 76 (Section 3)
- Confluence Of Cedar Creek To 1/4 Mile Below The Nf Boundary And Fh 110, Cobbs Bridge Road
- Highway 28 To Earl's Ford (Section 2)
Track Lake Carostar 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 Carostar Dam
Where does the data for Lake Carostar 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 Carostar Dam.