Big Rock Lake Dam
Big Rock Lake Dam is a dam located in Pickens County, South Carolina, built in 1955. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Big Rock Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Big Rock Lake Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Big Rock Lake Homeowners Assoc (private). It impounds the Tr-youngs Branch.
The dam stands 30 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 67 acre-feet. Completed in 1955, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/20/2024.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The South Carolina dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | South Carolina |
| County | Pickens |
| River/Stream | Tr-youngs Branch |
| Coordinates | 34.95340, -82.78580 |
Physical Characteristics
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 67 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 67 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 55 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | BIG ROCK LAKE HOMEOWNERS ASSOC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/20/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SCD01960 |
| Federal ID | SCD01960 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |