Lake Caldwell Dam dam
Lake Caldwell Dam
Lake Caldwell Dam, nestled in Greenville, South Carolina, is a private dam primarily designed for recreation and managed by the USDA NRCS. Completed in 1968, this earth dam stands at a height of 36 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 94 acre-feet. The dam overlooks the scenic Calahan Branch, offering a serene backdrop for outdoor enthusiasts and water resource aficionados.
Despite its fair condition assessment and high hazard potential, Lake Caldwell Dam is inspected every two years to ensure public safety. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with a risk assessment rating of moderate. Managed by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, the dam is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement, guaranteeing its compliance with safety standards and regulations. With its stone core and soil foundation, Lake Caldwell Dam serves as a vital recreational asset in the region, attracting visitors with its picturesque surroundings and water-based activities.
Lake Caldwell Dam's structural integrity and risk management measures contribute to its status as a popular outdoor destination in Greenville. The dam's 230-foot length and 4-acre surface area provide ample space for leisure activities, while its proximity to the Calahan Branch adds a natural charm to the recreational experience. With a dedicated focus on safety and compliance, Lake Caldwell Dam exemplifies responsible stewardship of water resources and climate resilience, making it a must-visit location for nature enthusiasts and environmental advocates alike.
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 Caldwell Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Saluda River Near Cleveland | 16 cfs | → |
| Middle Tyger River Near Gramling | 7 cfs | → |
| South Pacolet River Nr Campobello | 19 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Creek Above Greer | 14 cfs | → |
| South Saluda River Near Cleveland | 5 cfs | → |
| Brushy Creek Near Greenville | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Caldwell Dam.
Boat launches
- J. Verne Smith Park (Lake Robinson)
- Anchor Park
- Buckskin Road Pickens County
- Pisgah Forest Access Brevard
- Hooper Lane Mills River
Campgrounds
- Pleasant Ridge County Park
- Paris Mountain State Park
- Camp Burgess Glen Lake
- Black Forest Family Camping Resort
- Table Rock State Park
- Davidson River Recreation Area
Fishing spots
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Bear Creek Lake
- Bailey Branch
- Johns Creek Lake
- Sedalia Lake
- Macedonia Lake
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
- 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 Caldwell 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 Caldwell Dam
Where does the data for Lake Caldwell 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 Caldwell Dam.