Lake Murray is a large hydroelectric reservoir in the heart of the South Carolina midlands, just west of Columbia across Lexington, Newberry, Richland, and Saluda counties. Built on the Saluda River between 1927 and 1930 by damming the river at the Dreher Shoals (Saluda) Dam, it was the world's largest power reservoir at the time of completion. The lake is owned and operated by Dominion Energy to supply the Saluda Hydroelectric Station, and it also provides recreation and regional water supply.

Covering roughly 50,000 acres with about 650 miles of shoreline, Lake Murray is a deep piedmont reservoir, averaging around 41 feet and reaching close to 200 feet near the dam. About 41 miles long and 14 miles across at its widest, the lake features rocky points, wooded coves, open-water expanses, and shallow buttonbush and willow flats that provide a wide range of aquatic habitat.

Lake Murray is best known for its largemouth bass and striped bass fisheries and also supports crappie, bream, and catfish, drawing tournament anglers and recreational boaters throughout the year. Fisheries are managed by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), and public boat ramps, marinas, and parks provide access all around the reservoir near Columbia.

Water levels on Lake Murray are managed by Dominion Energy under a FERC license, with full pool near 360 feet above mean sea level. Seasonal rainfall, drought, downstream flow requirements, and hydropower generation all influence elevations, and the lake is typically drawn down modestly in fall and winter. Monitoring current lake levels is important for boating safety, fishing success, dock access, and shoreline activities throughout the year.

Lake Murray Events