Chestnut Lake Dam dam
Chestnut Lake Dam
Chestnut Lake Dam, located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, is a privately owned structure designed by the USDA NRCS with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1975, this earth dam stands at 26 feet tall and stretches 460 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 224 acre-feet. Situated on TR-LAWSONS FORK CREEK, this dam poses a high hazard potential and is currently assessed to be in poor condition as of the last inspection in February 2021.
Despite its condition, Chestnut Lake Dam continues to be a popular spot for recreational activities, offering a surface area of 15 acres for visitors to enjoy. However, the dam's uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates suggest a need for careful monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety of those downstream. With a moderate risk assessment rating and a history of state regulation, inspection, and enforcement, it is clear that this dam plays a crucial role in water resource management for the surrounding area.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding and advocating for the proper upkeep and regulation of structures like Chestnut Lake Dam is essential to ensuring the safety and sustainability of our waterways. By staying informed and engaged in the management of these critical infrastructure pieces, we can help protect our environment and communities from potential hazards and preserve these valuable resources for future generations.
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 Chestnut Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Tyger River Near Lyman | 11 cfs | → |
| South Tyger River Below Duncan | 33 cfs | → |
| South Pacolet River Nr Campobello | 23 cfs | → |
| North Pacolet River At Fingerville | 68 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Creek Above Greer | 14 cfs | → |
| Pacolet River Near Fingerville | 81 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Chestnut Lake Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- Anchor Park
- Berry Shoals Road 370, Spartanburg County
- Sandy Ford Road 1925, Chesnee
- J. Verne Smith Park (Lake Robinson)
- Buckskin Road Pickens County
- Memorial Highway 2693, Lake Lure
⛺ Campgrounds
More campgrounds →🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛶 Paddle runs
- Mills River From Confluence Of North/South Forks To Confluence With Foster Creek
- South Fork From Confluence With Pigeon Br To Nf Boundary
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork
- North Fork From Bottom Of Spillway Of Hendersonville Reservoir To Confluence With South 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 Chestnut 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 Chestnut Lake Dam
Where does the data for Chestnut 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 Chestnut Lake Dam.