Townes Creek Dam is a dam located in Oconee County, South Carolina, built in 1961. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 48 ft48 ft tall, taller than 92% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Townes Creek Dam
The primary purpose of Townes Creek Dam is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by Cherokee Lake Fishing and Boat Club (private). It impounds the Townes Creek.
The dam stands 48 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 149 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 2,592 acre-feet. Completed in 1961, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/14/2023.
At 48 feet, this dam is taller than 92% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The South Carolina dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | South Carolina |
| County | Oconee |
| River/Stream | Townes Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.90360, -83.05870 |
Physical Characteristics
| NID Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Height | 48 ft |
| Year Completed | 1961 (65 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,592 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,592 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,443 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 149 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Owner | Cherokee Lake Fishing and Boat Club |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/14/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SCD01634 |
| Federal ID | SCD01634 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |