Lake Zimmerman Dam dam
Lake Zimmerman Dam
Lake Zimmerman Dam, located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, is a private dam on Buffalo Creek with a primary purpose of recreation. Completed in 1939, this earth dam stands at a height of 37 feet and spans a length of 458 feet, providing a storage capacity of 790 acre-feet. The dam's surface area covers 52 acres, offering a scenic backdrop for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy.
Despite its recreational appeal, Lake Zimmerman Dam poses a high hazard potential and has been rated as being in poor condition as of the last inspection in November 2020. The dam is under state regulation and inspection by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), ensuring that necessary enforcement and permitting measures are in place. While the dam has not been modified in recent years, its emergency action plan (EAP) was last revised in 1994, underscoring the importance of ongoing risk assessment and management for the safety of surrounding communities.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Lake Zimmerman Dam serves as a focal point for understanding the intersection of human infrastructure with natural landscapes. As a key feature on Buffalo Creek, this dam not only provides recreational opportunities but also highlights the need for ongoing maintenance and risk assessment to safeguard against potential hazards. By staying informed about the condition and regulatory oversight of dams like Lake Zimmerman, enthusiasts can contribute to the sustainable management of water resources in their local communities and beyond.
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 Zimmerman Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lawsons Fork Creek At Spartanburg Sc | 29 cfs | → |
| Pacolet River Below Lake Blalock Near Cowpens | 88 cfs | → |
| South Tyger River Below Duncan | 21 cfs | → |
| Middle Tyger River Near Lyman | 8 cfs | → |
| Enoree River Near Woodruff | 115 cfs | → |
| Durbin Creek Above Fountain Inn | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Zimmerman Dam.
Boat launches
- Berry Shoals Road 370, Spartanburg County
- Sandy Ford Road 1925, Chesnee
- Anchor Park
- J. Verne Smith Park (Lake Robinson)
Campgrounds
- Croft State Natural Area
- Sedalia Campground
- Sedalia
- Poulous Loop Group Camp
- Paris Mountain State Park
- Woods Ferry
Paddle runs
- South Fork From Confluence With Pigeon Br To Nf Boundary
- Mills River From Confluence Of North/South Forks To Confluence With Foster Creek
- North Fork From Bottom Of Spillway Of Hendersonville Reservoir To Confluence With South Fork
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork
Track Lake Zimmerman 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 Zimmerman Dam
Where does the data for Lake Zimmerman 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 Zimmerman Dam.