Fiddlers Cove Dam dam
Fiddlers Cove Dam
Fiddlers Cove Dam, located in Oconee, South Carolina, is a privately owned earth dam that was completed in 1988 for recreational purposes. The dam stands at a height of 34 feet and spans 320 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 715 acre-feet. Situated on Mud Creek, the dam is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and undergoes regular state inspections and enforcement measures to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
Despite its primary purpose of recreation, Fiddlers Cove Dam has been classified as having a high hazard potential and a poor condition assessment. The last inspection in September 2019 raised concerns about the dam's safety, prompting the need for improved risk management measures and potentially an emergency action plan (EAP). With its location in a region susceptible to extreme weather events and the potential for flooding, it is crucial for stakeholders to address the dam's maintenance and safety to prevent any potential disasters and protect the surrounding community.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the data on Fiddlers Cove Dam highlights the importance of balancing the recreational benefits of dams with the need for proper maintenance and risk management. With its high hazard potential and poor condition assessment, there is a pressing need for stakeholders to prioritize the dam's safety and implement necessary measures to mitigate risks and ensure the protection of the surrounding area. By addressing these concerns and working towards improving the dam's condition, we can better safeguard our water resources and adapt to the challenges posed by 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 Fiddlers Cove Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chattooga River Near Clayton | 203 cfs | → |
| Twelvemile Creek Near Liberty | 40 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Rosman | 56 cfs | → |
| Tallulah River Ab Powerhouse | 39 cfs | → |
| South Saluda River Near Cleveland | 5 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee River Near Prentiss | 138 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fiddlers Cove Dam.
Boat launches
- White Oak Hill Road Oconee County
- Devils Fork Road Oconee County
- Fall Creek Landing
- Landing Road Oconee County
- High Falls Road Oconee County
- Cabin Road 398, Pickens County
Campgrounds
- Oconee State Park
- Cherry Hill Recreation Area
- Sandy Beach Campsite
- Devils Fork State Park
- Burrells Ford
- Long Bottom Ford
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters Just East Of Hwy 107 To Crossing Of Norton Field Road (Fs 715a)
- Beginning Just Upstream Of Townes Creek,Wash Branch And Crane Creek To Confluence With Kings Creek
- Sloan's Bridge Crossing To 1/4 Mile Above The Walhalla Fish Hatchery
- 1/4 Mile Above The Walhalla Fish Hatchery To 1/4 Mile Below The Walhalla Fish Hatchery
- Burrels Ford To Lick Log Branch (Section 1)
- Highway 28 To Earl's Ford (Section 2)
Track Fiddlers Cove 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 Fiddlers Cove Dam
Where does the data for Fiddlers Cove 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 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 Fiddlers Cove Dam.