Lake Saranac Dam dam
Lake Saranac Dam
Lake Saranac Dam in Spartanburg, South Carolina, is a privately owned structure regulated by the state's Department of Health and Environmental Control. The dam, situated on Mineral Spring Branch, stands at a height of 39 feet with a length of 290 feet, offering a storage capacity of 304 acre-feet for recreational purposes. Despite its fair condition assessment and low hazard potential, the dam is inspected every five years to ensure public safety.
The dam, primarily constructed of earth with a buttress core type, serves as a popular spot for water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking outdoor recreation opportunities in the area. With a normal storage capacity of 120 acre-feet and a surface area of 15 acres, Lake Saranac Dam provides a picturesque setting for activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife observation. Its location within the Charleston District adds to its appeal for those looking to explore the natural beauty of South Carolina.
Although the dam's last inspection took place in May 2017, the structure continues to meet state regulatory standards, with enforcement and permitting processes in place to ensure its ongoing maintenance and operation. As a key feature of the local landscape, Lake Saranac Dam offers a tranquil escape for visitors while remaining a well-regulated and monitored resource for water enthusiasts in the region.
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 Saranac Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lawsons Fork Creek At Spartanburg Sc | 28 cfs | → |
| Pacolet River Below Lake Blalock Near Cowpens | 88 cfs | → |
| Pacolet River Near Fingerville | 75 cfs | → |
| North Pacolet River At Fingerville | 50 cfs | → |
| Middle Tyger River Near Lyman | 7 cfs | → |
| South Tyger River Below Duncan | 22 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Saranac Dam.
Boat launches
- Sandy Ford Road 1925, Chesnee
- Anchor Park
- Berry Shoals Road 370, Spartanburg County
- J. Verne Smith Park (Lake Robinson)
- First Broad River Trail Shelby
- John H. Moss Lake Recreation Park
Campgrounds
- Croft State Natural Area
- Sedalia Campground
- Sedalia
- Shelby Mission Camp
- Garner Creek Backcountry Campsite
- Garner Creek
Fishing spots
- Johns Creek Lake
- Sedalia Lake
- Macedonia Lake
- Pittman Lake
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Mountain Island Park Fishing Access
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
- Linville Wilderness Boundary To Lake James
Track Lake Saranac 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 Saranac Dam
Where does the data for Lake Saranac 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 Low 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 Saranac Dam.