Lake Wateree

Lake Wateree
Location Kershaw / Fairfield / Lancaster counties, South Carolina, US
Coordinates 34°24′40″N 80°47′32″W / 34.41111°N 80.79222°W / 34.41111; -80.79222Coordinates: 34°24′40″N 80°47′32″W / 34.41111°N 80.79222°W / 34.41111; -80.79222
Type reservoir
Primary inflows Catawba River
Primary outflows Wateree River
Basin countries United States
Surface area 19 square miles (50 km2)

Lake Wateree is a 19 square miles (50 km2) reservoir in Kershaw, Fairfield, and Lancaster counties, South Carolina, in the United States. It is one of South Carolina's oldest man-made lakes. It has 242 miles (389 km) of shoreline and includes Lake Wateree State Park, a bird refuge, and Shaw Air Force Base Recreation center.[1] Its name, like that of the river, recalls the now-extinct Wateree Native Americans, who lived in the area until dispossessed by European settlers.

Location

The lake is surrounded by three of South Carolina's counties: Kershaw, Fairfield and Lancaster. It is about 30 miles (48 km) northeast of Columbia, east of I-77 just off SC 97.

Origin

Owned and managed by Duke Energy (formerly Duke Power), Lake Wateree was created in 1919 when the Wateree River was dammed.[2] The Wateree Hydro Station produces 56 megawatts of electricity.[3] This created a lake of nearly 14,000 acres (57 km2) with 190 miles (310 km) of shoreline touching three counties.[4]

Wildlife

Lake Wateree is another South Carolina lake known for its great fishing and bountiful wildlife. The fish include Largemouth Bass, Striped bass, White Perch, White bass, Crappie, Channel catfish, Arkansas Blue Catfish, Shellcrackers, Bream.

Other wildlife that call Lake Wateree home include deer, fox, squirrel, turtle, dove, turkey, alligator, and various species of duck, hawk, eagle, egret, Heron and osprey.

See also

References

  1. Lake Wateree Information
  2. Lake Wateree, South Carolina SC
  3. Wateree Hydro Station - Duke Energy
  4. History of Lake Wateree, South Carolina
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