Half Mile Lake Dam dam
Half Mile Lake Dam
Half Mile Lake Dam, located in Greenville, South Carolina, is a privately owned earth dam that was completed in 1990 for recreational purposes. Standing at a height of 27 feet and spanning 458 feet in length, the dam has a storage capacity of 180 acre-feet of water, with a normal storage level of 107 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Mountain Creek and is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC), with regular inspections conducted to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, Half Mile Lake Dam is deemed to be in fair condition based on the latest assessment conducted in October 2019. The dam has an emergency action plan (EAP) in place, although it is unclear whether it meets all guidelines and if inundation maps have been prepared. The dam is not under the jurisdiction of the US Army Corps of Engineers, and its primary purpose of recreation highlights the importance of balancing water resource management with public safety in the face of potential hazards associated with dams. Enthusiasts interested in water resources and climate will find Half Mile Lake Dam to be an intriguing case study in dam management and risk assessment.
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 Half Mile Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Brushy Creek Near Greenville | 5 cfs | → |
| Reedy River Near Greenville | 20 cfs | → |
| Saluda River Near Greenville | 122 cfs | → |
| Enoree River At Pelham | 40 cfs | → |
| Beaverdam Creek Above Greer | 14 cfs | → |
| Middle Tyger River Near Gramling | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Half Mile Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Buckskin Road Pickens County
- J. Verne Smith Park (Lake Robinson)
- 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
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
- Headwaters To Sloan's Bridge Crossing, Crossing Of Sc 107
Track Half Mile 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 Half Mile Lake Dam
Where does the data for Half Mile 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 Half Mile Lake Dam.