Lake Bowen Dam
Lake Bowen Dam is a dam located in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, built in 1956. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Bowen Dam
Lake Bowen Dam is a dam in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The dam is owned by City Of Spartanburg (local government). It impounds the South Pacolet River.
The dam stands 55 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 1,450 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 32,000 acre-feet. Completed in 1956, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/05/2023.
At 55 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.
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 | Spartanburg |
| River/Stream | South Pacolet River |
| Coordinates | 35.10760, -82.01770 |
Physical Characteristics
| NID Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Height | 55 ft |
| Year Completed | 1956 (70 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 32,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 32,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 22,400 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,450 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | CITY OF SPARTANBURG |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/05/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SCD04002 |
| Federal ID | SCD04002 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |