Overview
Lake Wateree is one of the oldest and southernmost lakes in Duke Energy's Catawba-Wateree hydroelectric system, spanning Fairfield, Kershaw, and Lancaster counties in South Carolina about 30 miles northeast of Columbia. Created in 1919 by damming the Wateree River for the Wateree Hydroelectric Station, it covers roughly 13,900 acres and provides hydropower along with a dependable water supply for the City of Camden and the Lugoff-Elgin Water Authority.
With about 181 miles of shoreline, Lake Wateree is one of the shallower large reservoirs in the state, averaging near 23 feet deep and reaching about 64 feet in the old river channel. As the most downstream reservoir in the chain, it features gently sloping banks, extensive shallow flats, stump fields, and feeder-creek arms rather than deep bluffs, producing fertile, fish-rich water throughout the lake.
Lake Wateree is well known for catfish along with largemouth bass, crappie, and bream, and it draws steady recreational traffic to Lake Wateree State Park and numerous public access areas. Fisheries are managed by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), and Duke Energy maintains public boat ramps around the reservoir in cooperation with the state.
Water levels on Lake Wateree are managed by Duke Energy as part of the Catawba-Wateree system. Duke reports the lake against a relative gauge where 100.0 feet represents full pond (an actual elevation of about 225.5 feet above mean sea level), with seasonal normal targets generally ranging from about 94.5 to 97 feet. As the most downstream link in the chain, Wateree experiences more frequent shoreline flooding than the upstream lakes, so monitoring current lake levels is important for boating safety, fishing, and dock access throughout the year.
Current Conditions
Lake Wateree is currently 1.9 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 changeUp 0.13 ft
- 30-day changeUp 0.41 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 Wateree is a 13,864-acre reservoir on the Catawba River managed by Duke Energy.