Leonard Dobson Dam dam
Leonard Dobson Dam
Leonard Dobson Dam, also known as Dodson Pond Dam, is a private-owned structure located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Built in 1959 by the USDA NRCS, this Earth-type dam serves primarily for irrigation purposes, with a storage capacity of 71 acre-feet and a surface area of 7 acres. The dam stands at a height of 24 feet and stretches 355 feet in length, containing stone core materials and resting on a soil foundation.
Despite its significant hazard potential and poor condition assessment, Leonard Dobson Dam remains under state regulation and inspection by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, posing moderate risk according to a risk assessment rating of 3. The last inspection conducted in March 2021 revealed the need for improvement, highlighting the importance of ongoing maintenance and risk management measures to ensure the safety and functionality of this vital water resource infrastructure along the TR-MAPLE CREEK.
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 Leonard Dobson Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Tyger River Below Duncan | 22 cfs | → |
| Middle Tyger River Near Lyman | 7 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Creek Above Greer | 14 cfs | → |
| Enoree River At Pelham | 48 cfs | → |
| Brushy Creek Near Greenville | 4 cfs | → |
| Middle Tyger River Near Gramling | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Leonard Dobson Dam.
Boat launches
- Berry Shoals Road 370, Spartanburg County
- J. Verne Smith Park (Lake Robinson)
- Anchor Park
- Buckskin Road Pickens County
- Sandy Ford Road 1925, Chesnee
- Arden Road Greenville County
Campgrounds
- Paris Mountain State Park
- Croft State Natural Area
- Pleasant Ridge County Park
- Camp Burgess Glen Lake
- Black Forest Family Camping Resort
- Table Rock State Park
Fishing spots
- Johns Creek Lake
- Macedonia Lake
- Sedalia Lake
- Pittman Lake
- Asheville Recreation Park Lake
- Lightwood Log Creek
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 Leonard Dobson 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 Leonard Dobson Dam
Where does the data for Leonard Dobson 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 Leonard Dobson Dam.