Lake Wateree
| Company type | Artificial lake |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hydroelectric power, Recreation |
| Founded | 1919 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Kershaw, Fairfield, and Lancaster counties, South Carolina |
| Products | Hydroelectric energy, recreational facilities |
| Owner | Duke Energy (formerly Duke Power) |
Lake Wateree is an artificial lake located within the boundaries of Kershaw, Fairfield, and Lancaster counties in South Carolina, United States. Formed in 1919 by impounding the Wateree River, it ranks among the earliest man-made lakes in South Carolina. The reservoir boasts of shoreline and offers facilities including Lake Wateree State Park, a designated bird sanctuary, and the recreational center at Shaw Air Force Base.
The lake and river share their name with the historic Native American tribe, the Wateree people, who later integrated with the Catawba people after European colonization.
Location
Situated along the borders of Kershaw, Fairfield, and Lancaster counties, Lake Wateree lies roughly northeast of Columbia, the capital city of South Carolina. Access to the lake is provided by SC 97, while I-77 runs to the west side of the reservoir.
Origin
Lake Wateree was created by Duke Power (currently known as Duke Energy) through the construction of a dam on the Wateree River to produce hydroelectric energy. The Wateree Hydro Station now generates 56 megawatts of power. Spanning close to , this body of water has an average depth of and holds an estimated volume of . Its shoreline stretches approximately across three counties.
Wildlife
The lake supports a rich variety of aquatic life, including fish species prized for both commercial fishing and recreational angling such as Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, White Perch, White Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Arkansas Blue Catfish, Redear Sunfish (Shellcrackers), and Bream.
Terrestrial fauna inhabiting the vicinity encompass deer, fox, squirrel, turtle, dove, turkey, alligator, alongside various birds like duck, hawk, eagle, egret, heron, and osprey.