Flatwood Lake Dam dam
Flatwood Lake Dam
Flatwood Lake Dam in Spartanburg, South Carolina, serves multiple purposes, including fire protection, stock, and a small fish pond. Built in 1956, this private earth dam stands at 31 feet high and spans 490 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 102 acre-feet. The dam, located on the TR-Little Shoally Creek, is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Despite its fair condition and significant hazard potential, Flatwood Lake Dam continues to provide essential services to the local community. The dam's primary owner, a private entity, is responsible for its maintenance and operation. With a surface area of 10 acres and a normal storage capacity of 72 acre-feet, the dam also offers recreational opportunities for visitors. The dam's inspection frequency is set at 3 years, with the latest assessment conducted in April 2020.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Flatwood Lake Dam a fascinating structure that highlights the intersection of human ingenuity and natural resource management. As an important feature in the region's water infrastructure, the dam plays a crucial role in water supply, flood control, and environmental conservation efforts. Its historical significance, combined with its modern-day functionality, makes Flatwood Lake Dam a noteworthy site for those interested in the sustainable development and management of water resources in South Carolina.
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 Flatwood Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pacolet River Below Lake Blalock Near Cowpens | 88 cfs | → |
| Pacolet River Near Fingerville | 75 cfs | → |
| North Pacolet River At Fingerville | 50 cfs | → |
| Lawsons Fork Creek At Spartanburg Sc | 28 cfs | → |
| South Pacolet River Nr Campobello | 19 cfs | → |
| Middle Tyger River Near Lyman | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Flatwood Lake 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
Campgrounds
- Croft State Natural Area
- Paris Mountain State Park
- Shelby Mission Camp
- River Creek Camp Ground
- Sedalia Campground
- Sedalia
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- 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
- South Fork From Confluence With Pigeon Br To Nf Boundary
- Linville Wilderness Boundary To Lake James
- Linville Gorge Wilderness Boundary To Southern End Of Wilderness
Track Flatwood 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 Flatwood Lake Dam
Where does the data for Flatwood 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 Significant 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 Flatwood Lake Dam.