Photo courtesy of the Lake Conestee Dam Restoration Project.
The Lake Conestee Dam Restoration Project webpage provides updates on the latest activities toward replacing the dam, as well as a livestream of the current construction project.
Lake Conestee Dam is located on the main stem of the Reedy River in Greenville County. The dam is one of the few stone masonry structures regulated under the South Carolina Dams and Reservoir Safety Act and is believed to have been constructed in the mid to late 1880s. The dam has reached the end of its original intended service life.
Lake Conestee Dam is a unique structure. This interactive Storymap provides a historic look at the dam over the years.
In addition to the aging condition of the dam, sampling detected the presence of metals, pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (or PAHs) within the sediment at concentrations above EPA levels acceptable for unrestricted use; PAHs were the most prevalent. These detected constituents are common to urban area runoff, and the sources of these types of constituents are often varied, depending on what is upstream of the watershed. The sediments behind the Lake Conestee Dam have been accumulating there since the dam was built in the late 1800s, so the sources of the detected constituents have come and gone over time.
In June 2023, the General Assembly approved $36 million to replace the Conestee Dam. Another $8-9 million has been dedicated to the project from stakeholder groups.
The Lake Conestee Dam Restoration Project (LCDRP) was created by Dr. Kelly D.H. Lowry to oversee construction of the new dam. After detailed work plans were reviewed and the proper permitting was issued by the former DHEC and the U.S. Army Corps Engineers, the Lake Conestee Dam Restoration Project celebrated the start of its construction phase with a ground-breaking event on Feb. 28, 2025.
SCDES (formerly DHEC Environmental Affairs) continues to work closely with the Conestee Nature Preserve, the Conestee Foundation, Kiewit Construction, elected and local officials, and the community as this critical infrastructure project is underway.
The Lake Conestee Dam Restoration Project webpage continues to keep the public updated on the latest activities toward replacing the dam.