South Carolina · Reservoir impounded 1971 · near Seneca
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Photographs of Lake Keowee via Wikimedia Commons. Credit and licence on each image — hover to view, click through to the source.
Lake Keowee covers 18,500 acres in South Carolina and drops to 300 feet at its deepest point. It is a reservoir impounded in 1971 and managed by Duke Energy. Water clarity averages around 25 feet, placing it among the clearer bodies of water in the country. Short-term rental posture: Oconee/Pickens County. Confirm at the municipal level before underwriting rental income.
Each axis is computed by published formula from this lake's own attributes. How we score.
Computed from measured clarity, trophic state, and drawdown magnitude — not an opinion. See the formula.
Weighted: water 26% · recreation 22% · investment 20% · value 18% · access 14%.
The dock sits at full-pool elevation. At low pool the waterline retreats and the reach to navigable water changes. Scale is illustrative; the 5 ft figure is from published operations for this lake.
Idealized cross-section. Max depth 300 ft, average 96 ft. Depth at a specific dock depends on local bathymetry — verify at the property.
Oconee/Pickens County
What a median-priced home on Lake Keowee actually costs to carry, with waterfront-specific line items most calculators omit.
| Principal & interest | $60,380 |
| Property taxes | $10,028 |
| Hazard insurance | $4,011 |
| Flood insurance | $878 |
| Utilities | $2,700 |
| Maintenance reserve (1.1%) | $10,505 |
| Septic service | $520 |
| Well & water testing | $260 |
| Dock maintenance | $900 |
| Winterization / seasonal close | $750 |
| Shoreline / seawall reserve | $960 |
| Total | $91,891 |
Prices here are meaningfully lower than the lake an hour north for water that is nearly as clear. Fewer restaurants and services, which is the tradeoff.
We looked at six lakes across three states before choosing this one. Sandy bottom in the swim areas, enough marina services, and it never feels crowded outside July.
