Overview
Lake Keowee is a clear, deep reservoir in the foothills of northwestern South Carolina, spanning Oconee and Pickens counties. Completed in 1971, it is owned and operated by Duke Energy as the lower reservoir of the Keowee-Toxaway hydroelectric project. Keowee provides hydroelectric power, cooling water for the Oconee Nuclear Station, and a water supply for surrounding communities, in addition to being a major recreation destination.
Covering about 18,500 acres with roughly 300-plus miles of shoreline, Lake Keowee is notably deep and clean, averaging around 50 feet and reaching approximately 150 feet near the dam. Steep, wooded shorelines, submerged points, and long tributary arms define the basin, and the lake's clarity and mountain-foothills setting give it a distinctive character among South Carolina reservoirs.
Lake Keowee supports a well-regarded fishery for spotted and largemouth bass, along with bream, catfish, and stocked trout in cooler water. Managed for recreation by SCDNR for fisheries, the lake offers public boat ramps, marinas, and lakeside parks, and its clear water makes it popular for boating, swimming, and paddling near Clemson and the upstate.
Water levels on Lake Keowee are managed by Duke Energy as part of the Keowee-Toxaway project and reported against a relative gauge where 100.0 feet represents full pond (an actual elevation near 800 feet above mean sea level). Keowee receives water from Lake Jocassee upstream and discharges through the Keowee River toward Lake Hartwell. Because levels shift with rainfall, generation, and pumped-storage operations, monitoring current lake levels is important for boating safety, fishing, and dock access.
Current Conditions
Lake Keowee is currently 3.09 feet below full pool and has been rising over the past week.
- 7-day trendRisingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeUp 0.99 ft
- 30-day changeDown 0.52 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.
Lake Keowee is a 18,500-acre reservoir on the Lake Jocassee managed by Duke Energy.