Lake Lanier Dam is a dam located in Greenville County, South Carolina, built in 1923. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 55 ft55 ft tall, taller than 94% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Lake Lanier Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Lanier Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town of Tryon (local government). It impounds the Vaughn Creek.
The dam stands 55 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 94 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 2,660 acre-feet. Completed in 1923, the structure is over a century 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 07/27/2023.
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 | Greenville |
| River/Stream | Vaughn Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.19680, -82.23520 |
Physical Characteristics
| NID Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Height | 55 ft |
| Year Completed | 1923 (103 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,660 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,660 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,800 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 94 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Tryon |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 07/27/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SCD03984 |
| Federal ID | SCD03984 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |