Lake Blalock
Encyclopedia
Lake Blalock is a reservoir
in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, located on the Pacolet River
about five miles north of Spartanburg
. After its creation was authorized in 1976 by the Commissioners of Spartanburg Water System, Blalock Dam was constructed in 1983. The existing earthen dam
is approximately 700 ft (213.4 m). long and 70 ft (21.3 m) high. It was originally designed for a normal operating pool of 700 feet (213.4 m), and the lake had approximately 35 miles (56.3 km) of shoreline. The existing spillway has a crest length of 270 ft (82.3 m).
To increase the safe yield of the reservoir, Spartanburg Water System raised the level of Lake Blalock by 10 feet (3 m), increasing the water surface elevation to 710 feet (216.4 m) in 2004. This project was completed in 2006 and involved overlaying the existing earthen dam with a layer of roller compacted concrete, approximately 3 ft (0.9144 m) in thickness, and constructing a new RCC stilling basin. The existing spillway
was also upgraded by furnishing and installing three hydraulically-operated spillway crest gates, constructing a new cast-in-place concrete ogee crest, and constructing a bridge across the spillway. In addition, the project also cleared approximately 300 acres (42 miles of shoreline) around the perimeter of the reservoir.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, located on the Pacolet River
Pacolet River
The Pacolet River is a tributary of the Broad River, about 50 miles long, in northwestern South Carolina in the United States . One of its principal headwaters tributaries also drains a small portion of western North Carolina. Via the Broad and Congaree Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the...
about five miles north of Spartanburg
Spartanburg, South Carolina
thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of...
. After its creation was authorized in 1976 by the Commissioners of Spartanburg Water System, Blalock Dam was constructed in 1983. The existing earthen dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
is approximately 700 ft (213.4 m). long and 70 ft (21.3 m) high. It was originally designed for a normal operating pool of 700 feet (213.4 m), and the lake had approximately 35 miles (56.3 km) of shoreline. The existing spillway has a crest length of 270 ft (82.3 m).
To increase the safe yield of the reservoir, Spartanburg Water System raised the level of Lake Blalock by 10 feet (3 m), increasing the water surface elevation to 710 feet (216.4 m) in 2004. This project was completed in 2006 and involved overlaying the existing earthen dam with a layer of roller compacted concrete, approximately 3 ft (0.9144 m) in thickness, and constructing a new RCC stilling basin. The existing spillway
Spillway
A spillway is a structure used to provide the controlled release of flows from a dam or levee into a downstream area, typically being the river that was dammed. In the UK they may be known as overflow channels. Spillways release floods so that the water does not overtop and damage or even destroy...
was also upgraded by furnishing and installing three hydraulically-operated spillway crest gates, constructing a new cast-in-place concrete ogee crest, and constructing a bridge across the spillway. In addition, the project also cleared approximately 300 acres (42 miles of shoreline) around the perimeter of the reservoir.