Lake Lanier Dam dam
Lake Lanier Dam
Lake Lanier Dam, located in Greenville, South Carolina, is a gravity dam completed in 1923 with a primary purpose of recreation. Standing at a height of 55 feet and stretching a length of 382 feet, the dam holds a maximum storage capacity of 2,660 acre-feet. The dam, situated on Vaughn Creek, serves as a vital water supply source for the region while also offering recreational opportunities for visitors.
Despite its historical significance and essential role in water management, Lake Lanier Dam faces challenges in terms of its condition assessment and hazard potential. The dam has been rated as having a poor condition, with a high hazard potential, highlighting the need for regular inspections and maintenance. The last inspection conducted in June 2019 revealed these concerns, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the safety and integrity of the dam for both water resource management and public safety.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, Lake Lanier Dam serves as a crucial component in the region's water supply and recreation systems. With its unique design, historical significance, and importance for water management, the dam stands as a testament to the intersection of human engineering and environmental stewardship in the face of changing climate conditions. Efforts to maintain and improve the dam's condition will be essential in ensuring its continued function and safety for the community it serves.
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 Lake Lanier Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Pacolet River Nr Campobello | 19 cfs | → |
| Middle Tyger River Near Gramling | 8 cfs | → |
| North Pacolet River At Fingerville | 51 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Creek Above Greer | 14 cfs | → |
| Pacolet River Near Fingerville | 81 cfs | → |
| Cove Creek Near Lake Lure | 33 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Lanier Dam.
Boat launches
- Anchor Park
- J. Verne Smith Park (Lake Robinson)
- Memorial Highway 2693, Lake Lure
- Sandy Ford Road 1925, Chesnee
- Hooper Lane Mills River
- Berry Shoals Road 370, Spartanburg County
Campgrounds
- Pleasant Ridge County Park
- River Creek Camp Ground
- Creekside Mountain Camping
- Paris Mountain State Park
- Camp Burgess Glen Lake
- Black Forest Family Camping Resort
Fishing spots
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Bear Creek Lake
- Johns Creek Lake
- Sedalia Lake
- Bailey Branch
- Macedonia Lake
Paddle runs
- Mills River From Confluence Of North/South Forks To Confluence With Foster Creek
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork
- North Fork From Bottom Of Spillway Of Hendersonville Reservoir To Confluence With South Fork
- South Fork From Confluence With Pigeon Br To Nf Boundary
- Dark Prong From Headwaters To Confluence East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
- East Fork From Us Highway 276 To Confluence Of Dark Prong And Yellowstone Prong
Track Lake Lanier 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 Lake Lanier Dam
Where does the data for Lake Lanier 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 Lake Lanier Dam.