Lake Placid Dam dam
Lake Placid Dam
Lake Placid Dam, located in Greenville, South Carolina, serves as a recreational haven within Paris Mountain State Park. Constructed in 1889, this stone core dam stands at 28 feet tall and spans 212 feet in length, creating a serene 16-acre surface area for visitors to enjoy. With a maximum storage capacity of 198 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 167 acre-feet, this dam on TR-Mountain Creek offers a picturesque backdrop for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and picnicking.
Managed by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Lake Placid Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite its fair condition assessment and high hazard potential, the dam continues to attract water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking a tranquil retreat in the heart of nature. With a history dating back over a century, this dam not only provides recreational opportunities but also serves as a vital component of the local ecosystem and water infrastructure.
For those interested in exploring the intersection of water resources and climate resilience, Lake Placid Dam offers a glimpse into the importance of proper dam management and maintenance. While its emergency action plan status and risk assessment details remain undisclosed, the dam's role in flood control, water supply, and environmental stewardship underscores the need for ongoing monitoring and mitigation efforts. As visitors bask in the beauty of this historic structure, they are reminded of the delicate balance between human recreation and natural resource conservation in the face of a changing climate.
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 Placid Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Brushy Creek Near Greenville | 4 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Greenville | 134 cfs | → |
| Reedy River Near Greenville | 19 cfs | → |
| Enoree River At Pelham | 48 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Creek Above Greer | 14 cfs | → |
| Middle Tyger River Near Gramling | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Placid Dam.
Boat launches
- J. Verne Smith Park (Lake Robinson)
- Buckskin Road Pickens County
- Berry Shoals Road 370, Spartanburg County
- Arden Road Greenville County
- Anchor Park
- Crow Creek Access Road Pickens County
Campgrounds
- Paris Mountain State Park
- Pleasant Ridge County Park
- Table Rock State Park
- Camp Burgess Glen Lake
- Black Forest Family Camping Resort
- Cantrell Campsite
Fishing spots
- Macedonia Lake
- Johns Creek Lake
- Sedalia Lake
- Bear Creek Lake
- Lightwood Log Creek
- Asheville Recreation Park 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
- Yellowstone Prong From Headwaters To Confluence With East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
Track Lake Placid 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 Placid Dam
Where does the data for Lake Placid 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 Placid Dam.