Gwalia Dam dam
Gwalia Dam
Gwalia Dam, located in McCormick, South Carolina, is a privately owned rockfill dam with a primary purpose classified as "Other." The dam stands at a height of 21 feet and has a storage capacity of 83 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 52 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the TR-HAWE CREEK and is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).
Despite being classified as having a "Significant" hazard potential, Gwalia Dam is currently assessed to be in fair condition as of March 2019. The dam undergoes inspections every 3 years to ensure its structural integrity and adherence to safety standards. The emergency action plan (EAP) for the dam was last revised in June 2019, although details regarding its compliance with guidelines and the preparation of inundation maps are not specified in the data.
With its important role in water resource management and flood control in the region, Gwalia Dam serves as a critical infrastructure that requires ongoing monitoring and maintenance to mitigate potential risks and ensure the safety of surrounding communities. Its location on TR-HAWE CREEK underscores the importance of effective regulatory oversight and emergency preparedness measures to safeguard against any unforeseen events that could impact the dam and its downstream areas.
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 Gwalia Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Stevens Creek Near Modoc | 585 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Mt. Carmel | 1,120 cfs | → |
| Augusta Canal Nr Augusta (Upper) | 1,670 cfs | → |
| Broad River Near Bell | 1,550 cfs | → |
| Lake Greenwood Tailrace Nr Chappells | 4,240 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Washington | 65 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gwalia Dam.
Boat launches
- Mccormick County
- Bakers Creek Boat Ramp
- Baker Creek Ramp Drive Mccormick County
- Whitstone Road 1198, Lincoln County
- Dordon Creek Boat Ramp
- Lincoln County
Campgrounds
- Baker Creek State Park
- Hawe Creek - Strom Thurmond Lake
- Clarks Hill Military
- Elijah Clark State Park
- Hickory Knob State Resort Park
- Hamilton Branch State Park
Fishing spots
- Cherokee Creek
- Cliatt Creek
- Parsons Mountain Lake
- J. Strom Thurmond Reservoir
- Lick Fork Lake
- Richard B Russell Lake
Track Gwalia 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 Gwalia Dam
Where does the data for Gwalia 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 Gwalia Dam.