Lake Moultrie is the third-largest lake in South Carolina, a roughly 60,000-acre reservoir located entirely within Berkeley County in the coastal plain northwest of Charleston. It was created in the early 1940s as the lower impoundment of the Santee Cooper Hydroelectric and Navigation Project, formed by the Pinopolis Dam and an extensive network of earthen dikes. Santee Cooper owns and operates the lake for hydroelectric power, water supply, navigation, and recreation.

With about 210 miles of shoreline, more than half of it contained by dams and dikes, Lake Moultrie is a large, relatively shallow lake averaging near 19 feet deep and reaching about 75 feet in old channels. Open-water flats, submerged humps, contour breaks, and the remnants of the old Hatchery dike create a mix of habitat, while a marked navigation channel runs from the Pinopolis Dam to the Diversion Canal. The lake is roughly 14 miles across at its widest point.

Lake Moultrie shares the Santee Cooper system's renowned fishery, producing striped bass, largemouth bass, crappie, bream, and catfish, and the Pinopolis Dam boat lock allows passage between the lake and the tailrace. Fisheries and wildlife are managed by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), which maintains several surrounding wildlife management areas. Public boat ramps, marinas, and parks provide access from Moncks Corner and the surrounding Lowcountry communities.

Lake Moultrie's elevation is managed by Santee Cooper and is directly dependent on Lake Marion: the two lakes are connected by the Diversion Canal, and Santee Cooper controls Moultrie's level primarily by adjusting flow between the lakes and generation at the St. Stephen hydro station. Normal full pool is near 75.5 feet above mean sea level. Because operations are coordinated across the Santee Cooper Lakes, monitoring current lake levels is important for boating safety, fishing success, dock access, and shoreline activities throughout the year.

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