Fairview Lake dam
Fairview Lake
Fairview Lake, located in Greenville, South Carolina, is a privately owned recreational reservoir built in 1959 for the primary purpose of providing recreational opportunities. The dam, classified as an Earth dam with a height of 18 feet and a length of 270 feet, creates a storage capacity of 65 acre-feet and a surface area of 5 acres. Despite its small size, Fairview Lake plays a significant role in the local water resource infrastructure, serving as a source of enjoyment and relaxation for visitors.
Managed by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), Fairview Lake is subject to state regulations, permitting, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its safety and compliance with standards. However, the dam is classified with a high hazard potential and poor condition assessment, underscoring the importance of ongoing maintenance and risk management. Despite these challenges, Fairview Lake remains a beloved spot for outdoor enthusiasts and a valuable resource for the surrounding community.
With its picturesque setting along TR-Payne Branch and its history dating back over half a century, Fairview Lake stands as a testament to the intersection of water resource management, climate resilience, and recreational enjoyment. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and upkeep of dams like Fairview Lake will be crucial in ensuring their safety and longevity for future generations of water and climate enthusiasts to enjoy.
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 Fairview Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Reedy River Above Fork Shoals | 233 cfs | → |
| Durbin Creek Above Fountain Inn | 22 cfs | → |
| Reedy River Near Greenville | 72 cfs | → |
| Enoree River At Pelham | 135 cfs | → |
| Enoree River Near Woodruff | 427 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Williamston | 665 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fairview Lake.
Boat launches
- Arden Road Greenville County
- Berry Shoals Road 370, Spartanburg County
- Garlington Drive Laurens County
- Buckskin Road Pickens County
- J. Verne Smith Park (Lake Robinson)
- Denver Road Anderson County
Campgrounds
- Paris Mountain State Park
- Croft State Natural Area
- Sedalia Campground
- Sedalia
- Pleasant Ridge County Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters Just East Of Hwy 107 To Crossing Of Norton Field Road (Fs 715a)
- Beginning Just Upstream Of Townes Creek,Wash Branch And Crane Creek To Confluence With Kings Creek
- Headwaters To Sloan's Bridge Crossing, Crossing Of Sc 107
- 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
- South Fork From Confluence With Pigeon Br To Nf Boundary
Track Fairview Lake 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 Fairview Lake
Where does the data for Fairview Lake 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 Fairview Lake.