Overview
Clarks Hill Lake, officially the J. Strom Thurmond Lake, is one of the largest reservoirs in the Southeast, straddling the South Carolina and Georgia border on the Savannah River. Completed in 1954, it was formed by the J. Strom Thurmond Dam and is owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, for flood control, hydroelectric power, water supply, and recreation.
Covering roughly 71,000 acres with about 1,200 miles of shoreline, Clarks Hill is a sprawling reservoir of wooded coves, broad open-water basins, long creek arms, and defined river channels. Depths reach around 180 feet near the dam, and the lake's mix of protected tributaries and expansive main-lake water makes it one of the most geographically diverse reservoirs in the region for boaters and anglers.
The lake is nationally known for its fishery, with largemouth and hybrid/striped bass, crappie, bream, and catfish, and it draws heavy tournament and recreational use. Fisheries are managed cooperatively by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Numerous Corps parks, boat ramps, marinas, and campgrounds provide access on both sides of the lake.
Water levels on Clarks Hill Lake are managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as part of the Savannah River Basin system, with a normal full pool of 330 feet above mean sea level (NGVD29) and flood storage to about 335 feet. Operations are coordinated with Lake Hartwell and Lake Russell upstream to balance flood control, power, water supply, and recreation. Rainfall, drought, and hydropower needs all influence elevations, so monitoring current lake levels is important for boating safety, fishing, and dock access.
Current Conditions
Clarks Hill is currently 7.27 feet below full pool and has fallen slightly over the past week.
- 7-day trendFallingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeDown 0.03 ft
- 30-day changeDown 1.20 ft
- Drought conditionsAbnormally Dry
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Clarks Hill is a 71,100-acre reservoir on the Savannah River managed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.