Boyd's Millpond Dam is a dam located in Laurens County, South Carolina, built in 1909. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 36 ft36 ft tall, taller than 82% 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 embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Boyd's Millpond Dam
The primary purpose of Boyd's Millpond Dam 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 Northbrook Carolina Hydro LLC (private). It impounds the Reedy River.
The dam stands 36 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 185 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 3,108 acre-feet. Completed in 1909, 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 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 11/22/2022.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 82% 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 | Laurens |
| River/Stream | Reedy River |
| Coordinates | 34.45520, -82.19930 |
Physical Characteristics
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
| Year Completed | 1909 (117 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,108 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,108 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 185 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Northbrook Carolina Hydro LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/22/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SCD04003 |
| Federal ID | SCD04003 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |