Overview
Lake Monticello (Monticello Reservoir) is a deep, purpose-built reservoir in Fairfield County near Jenkinsville, South Carolina, about 35 minutes northwest of Columbia. Completed in 1978, it is owned and operated by Dominion Energy as the upper reservoir of the Fairfield Pumped Storage facility and as the cooling-water source for the V. C. Summer Nuclear Station on its shores.
Covering about 6,700 acres with roughly 54 miles of shoreline, Monticello is a clear, cool, deep reservoir, averaging near 59 feet and reaching about 125 feet in places. Impounded by a series of earthen dams in the Frees Creek valley, it holds unusually clean water for the midlands and includes a 300-acre recreational sub-impoundment. About 7 miles of shoreline lie within the plant's Nuclear Exclusion Zone and are closed to the public.
Lake Monticello is known as a strong catfish and crappie lake and also holds largemouth bass and bream. To protect the pumped-storage and nuclear operations, boating and fishing are more restricted here than on nearby lakes, with no water-skiing or personal watercraft on the main reservoir. Fisheries are managed by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), and public access is provided at designated areas.
Water levels on Lake Monticello are managed by Dominion Energy as part of the Fairfield Pumped Storage project, with a normal full pool of 425 feet above mean sea level (NGVD29) and a licensed operating range of about 420.5 to 425 feet. Because the station pumps water up from Parr Reservoir at night and releases it for peak generation, the level can fluctuate several feet within a single day. Monitoring current lake levels is important for boating safety and dock access throughout the year.
Current Conditions
Lake Monticello is currently 0.42 feet below full pool and has risen slightly over the past week.
- 7-day trendRisingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeDown 0.16 ft
- 30-day changeDown 0.90 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 Monticello is a 6,700-acre reservoir on the Parr Reservoir (Broad River) via Fairfield Pumped Storage managed by Dominion Energy.