Bad Creek Main Dam dam
Bad Creek Main Dam
Bad Creek Main Dam, located in South Carolina's Oconee County, is a striking example of a public utility-owned structure designed by the Duke Power Company. Completed in 1991, this earth and rockfill dam stands at an impressive height of 360 feet and spans 2600 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 33,892 acre-feet and a drainage area of 1.4 square miles, the dam primarily serves a hydroelectric purpose, making it a crucial component of the region's energy infrastructure.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Bad Creek Main Dam poses a high hazard potential and is subject to regular inspections to ensure its safety and reliability. Despite its age, the dam remains in good condition, although detailed risk assessments have identified potential concerns that require careful monitoring and management. While the dam lacks a spillway, its robust design and strategic location on the Bad Creek and West Bad Creek tributaries demonstrate a commitment to sustainable water resource management and climate resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Bad Creek Main Dam is a notable engineering feat that exemplifies the intersection of human ingenuity and environmental stewardship. Its role in generating hydroelectric power underscores the importance of leveraging natural resources in a responsible manner, while its high hazard potential highlights the need for ongoing monitoring and risk management practices. As a key player in the region's energy landscape, this dam serves as a testament to the value of sustainable infrastructure development in the face of evolving climate challenges.
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 Bad Creek Main Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| French Broad River At Rosman | 58 cfs | → |
| Tuckasegee River At Sr 1172 Nr Cullowhee | 55 cfs | → |
| Twelvemile Creek Near Liberty | 42 cfs | → |
| Chattooga River Near Clayton | 210 cfs | → |
| South Saluda River Near Cleveland | 29 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee River Near Prentiss | 143 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bad Creek Main Dam .
Boat launches
- Devils Fork Road Oconee County
- White Oak Hill Road Oconee County
- Cabin Road 398, Pickens County
- Landing Road Oconee County
- Fall Creek Landing
- Crow Creek Access Road Pickens County
Campgrounds
- Bearcamp Creek Campsite
- Devils Fork State Park
- Cherry Hill Recreation Area
- Burrells Ford
- Buck Fields
- Bear Creek Campsite
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Sloan's Bridge Crossing, Crossing Of Sc 107
- Sloan's Bridge Crossing To 1/4 Mile Above The Walhalla Fish Hatchery
- 1/4 Mile Above The Walhalla Fish Hatchery To 1/4 Mile Below The Walhalla Fish Hatchery
- 1/4 Mile Below Walhalla Fish Hatchery To Boundary Of Chattooga Wsr
- Burrels Ford To Lick Log Branch (Section 1)
- Beginning Just Upstream Of Townes Creek,Wash Branch And Crane Creek To Confluence With Kings Creek
Track Bad Creek Main 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 Bad Creek Main Dam
Where does the data for Bad Creek Main 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 High 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 Bad Creek Main Dam .