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 in our state, to learn about its history and DHEC's role in regulating it, click on the interactive Storymap here.
Sampling that was conducted 20 years ago 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.
With detailed work plans reviewed and the proper permitting issued by DHEC and the U.S. Army Corps Engineers, the Lake Conestee Dam Restoration Project is celebrating the start of its construction phase with a ground-breaking event on Feb. 28, 2025. The Lake Conestee Dam Restoration Project webpage is continuing to keep the public updated on the latest activities toward replacing the dam.
SCDES (formerly DHEC Environmental Affairs) continues to work closely with the Conestee Nature Preserve, the Conestee Foundation, Kiewit Construction, local officials and the community as this critical infrastructure project is underway.
SCDES has issued initial dam safety permits for excavations outside of the Reedy River footprint for work to prepare the dam's foundation and features to divert the river flow during construction. We anticipate issuance of the next phase of permits in March.