Mountain Lake Dam dam
Mountain Lake Dam
Mountain Lake Dam, located in Greenville, South Carolina, was completed in 1889 and stands at a height of 40 feet with a length of 120 feet. This picturesque dam on the TR-Mountain Creek serves as a recreational spot, offering a serene environment for water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy. Despite its age, the dam is in fair condition and is regularly inspected by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
With a storage capacity of 53 acre-feet and a surface area of 4 acres, Mountain Lake Dam has a high hazard potential but is deemed to be structurally sound. The dam's primary purpose is for recreation, providing a tranquil setting for visitors to appreciate the beauty of nature. The dam's stone core and soil foundation contribute to its stability, giving assurance to both locals and tourists who frequent the area.
For those interested in water resources and climate change, Mountain Lake Dam offers a glimpse into the historical significance of dam construction in the late 19th century. Its presence on TR-Mountain Creek adds to the scenic landscape of Greenville, inviting visitors to appreciate the intersection of human ingenuity with the natural environment. As a regulated and inspected structure, the dam stands as a testament to responsible water management practices 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 Mountain Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Brushy Creek Near Greenville | 4 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Greenville | 134 cfs | → |
| Reedy River Near Greenville | 19 cfs | → |
| Enoree River At Pelham | 48 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Creek Above Greer | 14 cfs | → |
| Middle Tyger River Near Gramling | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mountain Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- J. Verne Smith Park (Lake Robinson)
- Buckskin Road Pickens County
- Berry Shoals Road 370, Spartanburg County
- Arden Road Greenville County
- Anchor Park
- Crow Creek Access Road Pickens County
Campgrounds
- Paris Mountain State Park
- Pleasant Ridge County Park
- Table Rock State Park
- Camp Burgess Glen Lake
- Black Forest Family Camping Resort
- Cantrell Campsite
Fishing spots
- Macedonia Lake
- Johns Creek Lake
- Sedalia Lake
- Bear Creek Lake
- Presbyterian Lake
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
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
- Yellowstone Prong From Headwaters To Confluence With East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
Track Mountain 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 Lake Dam
Where does the data for Mountain 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 Mountain Lake Dam.