Maxwell Springs Sub Dam dam
Maxwell Springs Sub Dam
Maxwell Springs Sub Dam, located in Greenwood, South Carolina, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 2002 primarily for recreation purposes. With a height of 22 feet and a length of 355 feet, this buttress-cored structure has a storage capacity of 166 acre-feet, providing ample opportunity for water-based activities and wildlife habitat. The dam is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), ensuring that it meets state requirements for safety and maintenance.
Despite being classified as having a significant hazard potential, Maxwell Springs Sub Dam received a fair condition assessment during its last inspection in October 2017. Emergency action plans are in place, and the dam is regularly inspected every three years to ensure its ongoing safety and compliance. The surrounding Armstrong Branch river system benefits from the dam's presence, contributing to the local ecosystem and providing a recreational haven for water resource and climate enthusiasts alike. With its picturesque setting and essential role in water management, Maxwell Springs Sub Dam stands as a vital asset within the Savannah District of South Carolina.
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 Maxwell Springs Sub Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Greenwood Tailrace Nr Chappells | 4,240 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Ware Shoals | 1,590 cfs | → |
| Saluda River At Chappells | 4,110 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Mt. Carmel | 1,120 cfs | → |
| Little River Nr Silverstreet | 231 cfs | → |
| South Rabon Creek Near Gray Court | 100 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Maxwell Springs Sub Dam.
Boat launches
- Arrowhead Drive Greenwood County
- Highway 28, Mccormick
- State Road S-33-277, Mccormick
- Long Cane Creek Boat Ramps
- Little River Boat Ramp
- Garlington Drive Laurens County
Campgrounds
- Parsons Mountain Lake
- Lake Greenwood State Park
- Faulkner Mountain Campground
- Morrow Bridge And Midway Seasonal Camps
- Boggy Campground
- Baker Creek State Park
Fishing spots
- Parsons Mountain Lake
- Richard B Russell Lake
- Lick Fork Lake
- Cherokee Creek
- J. Strom Thurmond Reservoir
- Cliatt Creek
Track Maxwell Springs Sub 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 Maxwell Springs Sub Dam
Where does the data for Maxwell Springs Sub 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 Maxwell Springs Sub Dam.