Chattooga Lake Dam
Chattooga Lake Dam is a dam located in Oconee County, South Carolina, built in 1954. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Chattooga Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Chattooga Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Chattooga Lake Club (private). It impounds the Taylor Creek.
The dam stands 55 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 44 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 793 acre-feet. Completed in 1954, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/30/2022.
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 | Oconee |
| River/Stream | Taylor Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.89390, -83.15560 |
Physical Characteristics
| NID Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Height | 55 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 793 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 793 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 44 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | CHATTOOGA LAKE CLUB |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/30/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SCD01637 |
| Federal ID | SCD01637 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |