Lake Calton Dam is a dam located in Pickens County, South Carolina, built in 1958. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 39 ft39 ft tall, taller than 85% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Lake Calton Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Calton Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Charles Winchester;douglas Winchester (private). It impounds the Tr-crow Creek.
The dam stands 39 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 129 acre-feet. Completed in 1958, 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 10/16/2023.
At 39 feet, this dam is taller than 85% 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 | Pickens |
| River/Stream | Tr-crow Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.92450, -82.82380 |
Physical Characteristics
| NID Height | 39 ft |
| Dam Height | 39 ft |
| Year Completed | 1958 (68 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 129 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 129 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 105 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Charles Winchester;douglas Winchester |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/16/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SCD01965 |
| Federal ID | SCD01965 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |