Lake Russell

Covering about 26,650 acres with roughly 540 miles of shoreline, Lake Russell is defined by its largely undeveloped, heavily forested banks, long creek arms, narrow coves, and submerged timber, points, and river channels. Depths reach about 167 feet near the dam. Federal regulations prohibit private development on the public lands surrounding the lake, giving it a quieter, more natural setting than its neighbors.

Lake Russell supports a balanced warmwater fishery for largemouth and spotted bass, striped bass, crappie, and catfish. Fisheries are managed cooperatively by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and public boat ramps and day-use areas provide access on both shores.

Water levels on Lake Russell are managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as part of the Savannah River Basin system. The project operates on a nearly constant guide curve at a full pool of 475 feet above mean sea level (NGVD29), with only about 5 feet of conservation storage and 5 feet of flood storage to about 480 feet, so the lake almost always looks full. Because operations are coordinated with Hartwell and Clarks Hill, monitoring current lake levels is still useful for boating safety, fishing, and dock access.