Parkins Lake Dam dam
Parkins Lake Dam
Parkins Lake Dam, located in Greenville, South Carolina, is a privately owned structure regulating the flow of the TR-REEDY RIVER. Completed in 1953, this Earth-type dam stands at 45 feet high and spans 440 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 257 acre-feet. The dam primarily serves a recreational purpose, providing a serene environment for visitors to enjoy water-based activities on the lake it creates.
Despite its fair condition assessment and high hazard potential, Parkins Lake Dam is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC), which ensures regular inspections, permitting, and enforcement to maintain its safety. The dam's emergency action plan (EAP) was last revised in 2015, with a biennial inspection frequency to monitor any potential risks. With its picturesque surroundings and vital role in managing water resources, Parkins Lake Dam is a significant feature in the region, attracting both visitors and climate enthusiasts alike.
As a key structure in the region's water management system, Parkins Lake Dam plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities while safeguarding against potential hazards. Alongside its earth core and stone foundation, the dam's storage capacity, surface area, and drainage area contribute to its importance in the area's water resource management. With ongoing regulatory oversight and a focus on safety, this dam continues to be a focal point for both environmental enthusiasts and those seeking leisure activities in a natural setting.
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 Parkins Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Reedy River Near Greenville | 72 cfs | → |
| Brushy Creek Near Greenville | 8 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Greenville | 473 cfs | → |
| Enoree River At Pelham | 135 cfs | → |
| Reedy River Above Fork Shoals | 233 cfs | → |
| Durbin Creek Above Fountain Inn | 22 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Parkins Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Buckskin Road Pickens County
- Arden Road Greenville County
- J. Verne Smith Park (Lake Robinson)
- Berry Shoals Road 370, Spartanburg County
- Garlington Drive Laurens County
- Denver Road Anderson County
Campgrounds
- Paris Mountain State Park
- Pleasant Ridge County Park
- Table Rock State Park
- Camp Burgess Glen Lake
- Black Forest Family Camping Resort
- Croft State Natural Area
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters Just East Of Hwy 107 To Crossing Of Norton Field Road (Fs 715a)
- Beginning Just Upstream Of Townes Creek,Wash Branch And Crane Creek To Confluence With Kings Creek
- Headwaters To Sloan's Bridge Crossing, Crossing Of Sc 107
- South Fork From Confluence With Pigeon Br To Nf Boundary
- Sloan's Bridge Crossing To 1/4 Mile Above The Walhalla Fish Hatchery
- 1/4 Mile Above The Walhalla Fish Hatchery To 1/4 Mile Below The Walhalla Fish Hatchery
Track Parkins Lake 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 Parkins Lake Dam
Where does the data for Parkins Lake 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 Parkins Lake Dam.