Warren Norman Dam dam
Warren Norman Dam
Warren Norman Dam in Lancaster, South Carolina, stands as a crucial water resource structure, regulating the flow of Sandy Branch. This buttress dam reaches a height of 25 feet and spans 560 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 337 acre-feet. The dam's spillway, classified as controlled, ensures the safe release of excess water during periods of high flow, with a hazard potential rated as significant.
Managed by a private entity, Warren Norman Dam is subject to state regulation and inspection by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. Despite being rated in fair condition as of the last assessment in 2017, the dam poses a very high risk due to its location and potential impact in case of failure. Regular inspections are conducted every three years to assess the dam's structural integrity and ensure that emergency preparedness measures are in place to mitigate risks to surrounding communities.
With its critical role in water management and flood control, Warren Norman Dam serves as a testament to the importance of maintaining infrastructure in a state with a history of extreme weather events. Climate enthusiasts and water resource experts alike can appreciate the complexities involved in managing and safeguarding this vital piece of South Carolina's water infrastructure.
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 Warren Norman Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Waxhaw Creek At Sr1103 Near Jackson | 1 cfs | → |
| Catawba River Below Catawba | 1,290 cfs | → |
| Fishing Creek Below Fort Lawn | 24 cfs | → |
| Rocky Creek At Great Falls | 8 cfs | → |
| Wildcat Creek Below Rock Hill | 3 cfs | → |
| Catawba River Near Rockhill | 853 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Warren Norman Dam.
Boat launches
- Lancaster County
- Catawba Nation Greenway Trail York County
- Waterford Trail Rock Hill
- Green Road Lancaster County
- Piedmont Medical Center Trail York County
- New Gray Rock Road Tega Cay
Campgrounds
- Andrew Jackson State Park
- Cane Creek Park
- Sign Language
- Ebenezer County Park
- Lake Wateree State Rec Area
- Williams Farm
Track Warren Norman 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 Warren Norman Dam
Where does the data for Warren Norman 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 Significant 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 Warren Norman Dam.