Lower Pelzer is a gravity dam located in Greenville County, South Carolina, built in 1893. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 43 ft43 ft tall and 546 ft long, taller than 89% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Lower Pelzer
The primary purpose of Lower Pelzer is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Consolidated Hydro Southeast, LLC (private). It impounds the Saluda River near Duke Steam Plant.
The dam stands 43 feet tall and stretches 546 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 80 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 400 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 411 square miles. Completed in 1893, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/12/2022.
At 43 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | South Carolina |
| County | Greenville |
| Nearest City | Duke Steam Plant |
| River/Stream | Saluda River |
| Coordinates | 34.61697, -82.44740 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 43 ft |
| Dam Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Length | 546 ft |
| Year Completed | 1893 (133 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 400 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 400 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 160 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 80 acres |
| Drainage Area | 411 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 29,400 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Consolidated Hydro Southeast, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/12/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SC01750 |
| Federal ID | SC01750 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |