Saluda dam
Saluda
Saluda, also known as Lake Murray, is a public utility hydroelectric dam located in Lexington, South Carolina. Constructed in 1930 by Murray & Flood of New York City, this Earth-type dam stands at 213 feet in height and spans 7800 feet in length. With a normal storage capacity of 2.1 million acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 197,000 cubic feet per second, Saluda plays a crucial role in providing renewable energy and water supply to the region.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Saluda's spillway is of the controlled type with a width of 299 feet, ensuring efficient water flow management. The dam's associated structures include Tainter radial gates and a hazard potential rating of High, emphasizing the need for thorough risk assessment and management. Despite its age, Saluda remains a key component of the local water resource infrastructure and continues to operate with a risk assessment rank of Very High (1).
Saluda's strategic location on the Saluda River, in close proximity to Irmo, makes it a significant landmark in the Savannah District. With its rich history, impressive structural design, and essential role in water resource management, Saluda stands as a testament to the ingenuity and foresight of its designers and remains a vital asset for both energy generation and climate resilience in the region.
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 Saluda -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Saluda River Below Lk Murray Dam Nr Columbia | 2,400 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Columbia | 2,620 cfs | → |
| Smith Branch At North Main St At Columbia | 2 cfs | → |
| Congaree River At Columbia | 9,260 cfs | → |
| Broad River At Alston | 4,010 cfs | → |
| Gills Creek At Columbia | 44 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Saluda .
Boat launches
- Highway 6 6, Columbia
- Cove Launch Court Lexington County
- Shull Island Boat Ramp
- Eastshore Drive 143, Lexington County
- Cabana Way Lexington County
- Sandlapper Way 159, Lexington County
Campgrounds
- Woodmen Of The World Park
- Dreher Island State Rec Area
- Sesquicentennial State Park
- Weston Lake Military - Fort Jackson
- Longleaf Campground
- Rocky Branch Seasonal Camp
Fishing spots
Track Saluda 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 Saluda
Where does the data for Saluda 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 Saluda .