Lick Fork Lake Dam dam
Lick Fork Lake Dam
Lick Fork Lake Dam is a Federal-owned structure located in Edgefield, South Carolina, along Lick Fork Creek. This Earth-type dam, completed in 1940, stands at 31 feet tall and spans 300 feet in length, serving primarily for recreation purposes such as fish and wildlife pond activities. Managed by the USDA Forest Service, the dam has a storage capacity of 90 acre-feet and is considered to have a low hazard potential, with a moderate risk assessment rating.
Despite not being regulated by the state, Lick Fork Lake Dam undergoes inspections every 10 years by the Forest Service to ensure its safety and structural integrity. With a hazard potential of low, the dam poses minimal risk, and its condition is currently not rated. While the dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, its risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk, prompting the need for continued monitoring and potential risk management measures in the future.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Lick Fork Lake Dam an intriguing structure to study, given its historical significance and recreational benefits to the surrounding area. With its location along Lick Fork Creek, the dam provides essential water storage for fish and wildlife while offering opportunities for outdoor activities. As a Federal-owned facility managed by the Forest Service, the dam represents a harmonious blend of human-made infrastructure and natural resource conservation.
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 Lick Fork Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Stevens Creek Near Modoc | 18 cfs | → |
| Augusta Canal Nr Augusta (Upper) | 2,240 cfs | → |
| Butler Creek Below 7th Avenue | 8 cfs | → |
| Spirit Creek At Us 1 | 9 cfs | → |
| Savannah River At Augusta | 3,780 cfs | → |
| Mctier Creek (Rd 209) Near Monetta | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lick Fork Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Mccormick County
- Saint John's Road, Clarks Hill
- Columbia County
- Lakeview Drive Parksville
- Lake Springs Road Columbia County
- Ridge Road 5943, Columbia County
Campgrounds
- Lick Fork Lake Recreation Area
- Lick Fork Lake
- Hamilton Branch State Park
- Modoc - Strom Thurmond Lake
- Bussey Point Wilderness Area
- Ridge Road - Strom Thurmond Lake
Fishing spots
Track Lick Fork Lake 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 Lick Fork Lake Dam
Where does the data for Lick Fork Lake 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 Lick Fork Lake Dam.