Mountain Springs Lake Dam dam
Mountain Springs Lake Dam
Mountain Springs Lake Dam, also known as Rochester Pond Dam, is a private dam located in Oconee, South Carolina. Built in 1972 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 19 feet and stretches 340 feet in length, creating a serene 6-acre recreational lake. While its primary purpose is for recreation, the dam is also state-regulated by SC DHEC and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity.
Despite its significant hazard potential and poor condition assessment, Mountain Springs Lake Dam continues to provide a picturesque setting for outdoor enthusiasts in South Carolina. With a normal storage capacity of 53 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 59 acre-feet, the dam offers a tranquil escape for visitors seeking to enjoy the beauty of the TR-Little River. Although the dam's spillway is uncontrolled, efforts are being made to manage the risk associated with the dam, with a moderate risk assessment currently in place.
As a key feature in the Nashville District, Mountain Springs Lake Dam remains a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts, showcasing the intersection of human engineering and natural beauty. With its historic construction and ongoing regulatory oversight, the dam serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and managing our water infrastructure for both recreational and environmental purposes in the state of 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 Mountain Springs Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Twelvemile Creek Near Liberty | 40 cfs | → |
| Chattooga River Near Clayton | 203 cfs | → |
| French Broad River At Rosman | 56 cfs | → |
| South Saluda River Near Cleveland | 5 cfs | → |
| Tallulah River Ab Powerhouse | 39 cfs | → |
| Little Tennessee River Near Prentiss | 138 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mountain Springs Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- White Oak Hill Road Oconee County
- Devils Fork Road Oconee County
- Landing Road Oconee County
- Fall Creek Landing
- Cabin Road 398, Pickens County
- Crow Creek Access Road Pickens County
Campgrounds
- Devils Fork State Park
- Cherry Hill Recreation Area
- Oconee State Park
- Keowee - Toxaway State Natural Area
- Mile Creek County Park
- Sandy Beach Campsite
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Beginning Just Upstream Of Townes Creek,Wash Branch And Crane Creek To Confluence With Kings Creek
- Headwaters Just East Of Hwy 107 To Crossing Of Norton Field Road (Fs 715a)
- Sloan's Bridge Crossing To 1/4 Mile Above The Walhalla Fish Hatchery
- 1/4 Mile Above The Walhalla Fish Hatchery To 1/4 Mile Below The Walhalla Fish Hatchery
- Headwaters To Sloan's Bridge Crossing, Crossing Of Sc 107
- 1/4 Mile Below Walhalla Fish Hatchery To Boundary Of Chattooga Wsr
Track Mountain Springs 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 Mountain Springs Lake Dam
Where does the data for Mountain Springs 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 Mountain Springs Lake Dam.