Garren Lake Dam dam
Garren Lake Dam
Garren Lake Dam, located in Pickens, South Carolina, was completed in 1956 and stands at a height of 34 feet with a length of 575 feet. The dam, primarily designed for recreation, holds a storage capacity of 192 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 160 acre-feet. Situated on the TR-SOUTH SALUDA RIVER, the dam serves as a critical structure in the area, providing essential recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.
Managed by the state regulatory agency SC DHEC, Garren Lake Dam has been deemed to have a low hazard potential and fair condition as of the last inspection in June 2017. The dam's emergency action plan status, risk assessment, and inundation map preparedness are currently unknown, suggesting a potential area for improvement in terms of emergency preparedness. Despite these considerations, the dam continues to play a vital role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
With its picturesque setting and significant impact on the surrounding community, Garren Lake Dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource management and climate adaptation strategies. As enthusiasts in the field, it is essential to monitor and advocate for the upkeep and improvement of critical infrastructure like Garren Lake Dam to ensure the safety and well-being of all those who benefit from its presence.
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 Garren Lake 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 | → |
| French Broad River At Rosman | 54 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Greenville | 134 cfs | → |
| Davidson River Near Brevard | 32 cfs | → |
| Twelvemile Creek Near Liberty | 38 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Garren Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Buckskin Road Pickens County
- Pisgah Forest Access Brevard
- Crow Creek Access Road Pickens County
- Cabin Road 398, Pickens County
- J. Verne Smith Park (Lake Robinson)
Campgrounds
- Table Rock State Park
- Black Forest Family Camping Resort
- Camp Burgess Glen Lake
- Pleasant Ridge County Park
- Cantrell Campsite
- Virginia Hawkins Campsite
Fishing spots
- Bear Creek Lake
- Presbyterian Lake
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Lake Hartwell
- Lightwood Log Creek
- Yonah Lake
Paddle runs
- South Fork From Confluence With Pigeon Br To Nf Boundary
- Dark Prong From Headwaters To Confluence East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
- Yellowstone Prong From Headwaters To Confluence With 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 Garren 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 Garren Lake Dam
Where does the data for Garren 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 Low 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 Garren Lake Dam.