Fred Richards Dam dam
Fred Richards Dam
Fred Richards Dam, located in Cherokee, South Carolina, serves as a vital structure for flood risk reduction along the TR-Cherokee Creek. Completed in 1996, this private-owned earth dam stands at a height of 31 feet and spans 250 feet in length. With a primary purpose of flood risk reduction, the dam also caters to recreational activities, offering a surface area of 2 acres for visitors to enjoy.
Despite its low hazard potential, Fred Richards Dam has been assessed to be in poor condition as of August 2017. The dam has a storage capacity of 30 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 18.6 acre-feet. While the dam is state-regulated and subject to inspection, its condition highlights the need for maintenance and potential improvement measures to ensure its continued effectiveness in flood risk reduction.
With its strategic location and importance in mitigating flood risks in the region, Fred Richards Dam stands as a key asset in water resource management. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of this dam in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events underscores the critical role infrastructure plays in safeguarding communities and the environment against natural hazards.
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 Fred Richards Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Broad River Near Gaffney | 1,890 cfs | → |
| Broad River Near Blacksburg | 350 cfs | → |
| Broad River Below Cherokee Falls | 576 cfs | → |
| Broad River Near Boiling Springs | 392 cfs | → |
| Pacolet River Below Lake Blalock Near Cowpens | 88 cfs | → |
| Lawsons Fork Creek At Spartanburg Sc | 30 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fred Richards Dam.
Boat launches
- First Broad River Trail Shelby
- John H. Moss Lake Recreation Park
- Sandy Ford Road 1925, Chesnee
- Lakeshore Drive Cleveland County
- Anchor Park
Campgrounds
- Garner Creek Backcountry Campsite
- Garner Creek
- Shelby Mission Camp
- John H. Moss Lake City Campground
- Kings Mountain State Park
- Hounds Gateway Campground
Fishing spots
- Johns Creek Lake
- Sedalia Lake
- Macedonia Lake
- Pittman Lake
- Mountain Island Park Fishing Access
- Benfield Creek
Track Fred Richards 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 Fred Richards Dam
Where does the data for Fred Richards 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 Fred Richards Dam.