Lawrence Ledford Dam dam
Lawrence Ledford Dam
Located in Pickens, South Carolina, the Lawrence Ledford Dam stands as a private-owned structure along the TR-Peters Creek, offering a serene spot for recreation enthusiasts. Completed in 1968, this earth dam boasts a height of 25 feet and a length of 242 feet, providing a storage capacity of 75 acre-feet for water enthusiasts to enjoy. However, recent assessments have raised concerns about the dam's condition, with a poor rating and a high hazard potential, prompting the need for regular inspections and potential risk management measures.
Despite its recreational purpose, the Lawrence Ledford Dam poses a moderate risk due to its poor condition, requiring heightened attention to ensure public safety and prevent potential hazards. With a high hazard potential and a history of poor conditions, the dam's emergency action plan and risk management measures must be carefully reviewed and updated to mitigate any potential risks that could arise in the future. Additionally, regular inspections and maintenance are crucial to ensure the dam's structural integrity and prevent any potential dangers to the surrounding community.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts continue to enjoy the recreational opportunities provided by the Lawrence Ledford Dam, it is essential for both owners and regulatory agencies to work together to address the dam's current condition and implement necessary risk management measures. With a focus on public safety and environmental protection, proactive steps must be taken to enhance the dam's structural stability and ensure the continued enjoyment of this natural resource for generations to come.
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 Lawrence Ledford Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Saluda River Near Cleveland | 5 cfs | → |
| Middle Saluda River Near Cleveland | 16 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Greenville | 134 cfs | → |
| Twelvemile Creek Near Liberty | 38 cfs | → |
| Brushy Creek Near Greenville | 4 cfs | → |
| Reedy River Near Greenville | 19 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lawrence Ledford Dam.
Boat launches
- Buckskin Road Pickens County
- J. Verne Smith Park (Lake Robinson)
- Crow Creek Access Road Pickens County
- Cabin Road 398, Pickens County
- Pisgah Forest Access Brevard
Campgrounds
- Table Rock State Park
- Pleasant Ridge County Park
- Camp Burgess Glen Lake
- Black Forest Family Camping Resort
- Cantrell Campsite
- Paris Mountain State Park
Fishing spots
- Bear Creek Lake
- Presbyterian Lake
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Lightwood Log Creek
- Lake Hartwell
- Yonah Lake
Paddle runs
- South Fork From Confluence With Pigeon Br To Nf Boundary
- Headwaters To Sloan's Bridge Crossing, Crossing Of Sc 107
- Dark Prong From Headwaters To Confluence East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
- North Fork From Bottom Of Spillway Of Hendersonville Reservoir To Confluence With South Fork
- Nf Boundary To Confluence With North Fork
- Mills River From Confluence Of North/South Forks To Confluence With Foster Creek
Track Lawrence Ledford 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 Lawrence Ledford Dam
Where does the data for Lawrence Ledford 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 Lawrence Ledford Dam.