Farming Creek Dam dam
Farming Creek Dam
Farming Creek Dam, located in Lexington, South Carolina, is a private-owned structure primarily designed for flood risk reduction. Completed in 1998, this earth-type dam stands at a height of 30 feet with a length of 325 feet. It has a maximum storage capacity of 16.5 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 4 acre-feet, serving the purpose of mitigating potential flood hazards in the area. The dam is situated on TwentyMile Creek, under the jurisdiction of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), and is regulated, inspected, and enforced by state authorities.
Despite having a low hazard potential, Farming Creek Dam has not been rated for its condition assessment. It features a stone core type with a soil foundation and does not have a spillway. The dam's inspection frequency is set at every five years, with the last assessment conducted in April 2017. While the dam is not maintained by any federal agency, it plays a crucial role in flood risk reduction and offers recreational opportunities for the local community.
Overall, Farming Creek Dam serves as a vital infrastructure for flood control in the region, ensuring the safety and well-being of nearby residents. With its strategic location on TwentyMile Creek and efficient design, the dam continues to fulfill its primary purpose while also providing recreational amenities for visitors. As climate change impacts water resources, structures like Farming Creek Dam play a crucial role in managing the risks associated with extreme weather events and safeguarding the local environment.
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 Farming Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Saluda River Below Lk Murray Dam Nr Columbia | 764 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Columbia | 1,190 cfs | → |
| Congaree River At Columbia | 4,640 cfs | → |
| Smith Branch At North Main St At Columbia | 2 cfs | → |
| Broad River At Alston | 3,640 cfs | → |
| Gills Creek At Columbia | 18 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Farming Creek Dam.
Boat launches
- Cabana Way Lexington County
- Eastshore Drive 143, Lexington County
- Sandlapper Way 159, Lexington County
- Shull Island Boat Ramp
- Cove Launch Court Lexington County
- Highway 6 6, Columbia
Campgrounds
- Dreher Island State Rec Area
- Woodmen Of The World Park
- Sesquicentennial State Park
- Weston Lake Military - Fort Jackson
- Rocky Branch Seasonal Camp
- Longleaf Campground
Fishing spots
Track Farming Creek 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 Farming Creek Dam
Where does the data for Farming Creek 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 Farming Creek Dam.