Lyman Lake Dam dam
Lyman Lake Dam
Located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Lyman Lake Dam serves as a vital recreational resource for the local community. Completed in 1955, this earth dam stands at a height of 43 feet and spans a length of 260 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 12,245 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the Middle Tyger River, providing a picturesque setting for activities such as boating, fishing, and camping.
Despite its recreational importance, Lyman Lake Dam has been flagged with a high hazard potential and a poor condition assessment. The dam is owned and regulated by the local government, with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control overseeing state permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The last inspection in February 2020 revealed the need for maintenance and improvements to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts continue to appreciate the beauty and functionality of Lyman Lake Dam, there is a growing emphasis on the importance of proper maintenance and risk management. With its rich history and significant storage capacity, this dam plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities while also highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety of both the dam and the surrounding community.
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 Lyman Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Beaverdam Creek Above Greer | 14 cfs | → |
| Middle Tyger River Near Gramling | 7 cfs | → |
| Middle Tyger River Near Lyman | 7 cfs | → |
| South Tyger River Below Duncan | 22 cfs | → |
| Enoree River At Pelham | 48 cfs | → |
| Brushy Creek Near Greenville | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lyman Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- J. Verne Smith Park (Lake Robinson)
- Berry Shoals Road 370, Spartanburg County
- Anchor Park
- Buckskin Road Pickens County
- Sandy Ford Road 1925, Chesnee
- Arden Road Greenville County
Campgrounds
- Paris Mountain State Park
- Pleasant Ridge County Park
- Croft State Natural Area
- Camp Burgess Glen Lake
- Black Forest Family Camping Resort
- Table Rock State Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- South Fork From Confluence With Pigeon Br To Nf Boundary
- 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
- 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 Lyman 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 Lyman Lake Dam
Where does the data for Lyman 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 Lyman Lake Dam.