Funded & supported by more than a dozen local governments & associations, water utilities & organizations, Catawba-Wateree Water Management Group, & Duke Energy.
First stage to run through September There are NO usage restrictions on Lake Wateree.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LOCATION, DATE: A partnership of more than a dozen local governments, water-related utilities and organizations, the Catawba-Wateree Water Management Group, and Duke Energy are proud to announce the start of a multi-year effort to improve Lake Wateree’s water quality. Treatment is expected to begin in mid-July depending upon weather. The program is targeting lyngbya (Microseria wollei), a filamentous, mat-forming cyanobacterium that occurs in a variety of fresh waters.
Because the effort is using EPA-approved treatment, there are no usage restrictions on Lake Wateree. Irrigation, fishing, or swimming on Lake Wateree can continue as normal.
Lyngbya has become increasingly problematic in reservoirs throughout the southeastern US, including Lake Gaston, located along the North Carolina and Virginia border, that reported approximately 1,300 impacted acres in 2023.
Lyngbya found in Lake Wateree can be identified by dense, dark-colored mat formations, wool- like texture, and musty odor. Unlike other algae, lyngbya persists year-round along the lake bottom but as water temperatures rise, it begins to grow upwards through the entire water column and forms surface mats or cover. (Note: The situation in Lake Wateree is unrelated to the Harmful Algae Blooms and Swim Advisory currently in effect at Lake Norman, NC as of June 2025.)
Lyngbya currently impacts approximately 60 acres within Lake Wateree, leading local stakeholders to engage the Catawba-Wateree Water Management Group (CWWMG) to facilitate the development of a lyngbya-directed algaecide treatment program. Funding and support for this program is being provided by the following:
Kershaw County Lugoff-Elgin Water
Fairfield County Chester Metropolitan Water District
Lancaster County Chester Wastewater Recovery
Chester County City of Lancaster
Lugoff-Elgin Water Lancaster County Water & Sewer District
City of Camden Duke Energy
Lake Wateree Association
Treatment sites are determined using a science-dictated approach and using data collected from the Lake Wateree Association: WaterWatch survey, previous survey efforts conducted by Duke Energy, as well as additional citizen reports via Duke Energy’s Aquatic Plant Reporting Tool. Sites may change throughout the multi-year process depending upon treatment results. The sites selected are distributed throughout the lake and prioritized according to positive species identification, relative infestation levels, site specific features that improve treatment efficacy, and critical sites.
Between mid-July and the end of September, residents in treatment areas will see airboats utilized by Aqua Services slowly moving along the shoreline applying algaecides that will target lyngbya in the selected sites. The treatment being used at Lake Wateree includes chelated copper-based algaecides that are EPA-approved for aquatic use and distributed by SePRO Corporation. These algaecides have a bright blue hue and will be observed in the water directly following applications.
The timeline for achieving the successful control of lyngbya is difficult to estimate. Because of its physical makeup, it is difficult to determine success through visual observation. Healthy, viable mats or cover looks very similar to mats that are less viable, and it is expected that lyngbya may persist along the bottom of the lake.
However, homeowners are likely to observe an immediate response to the treatment through the absence of surface mats or cover, as well as a decrease in overall amount of lyngbya between treatment seasons.
Lake Wateree’s Lyngbya Management Program was designed using the same protocol that is being implemented at Lake Gaston (NC/VA) and Mountain Island Lake in Charlotte, NC. While the program has demonstrated success in reducing the presence of lyngbya over time, several environmental factors could impact the effectiveness of a treatment program.
To help improve its chances of success, the Catawba-Wateree Water Management Group partnered with Dr. John Rodgers, Emeritus Professor at Clemson University, and Duke Energy to evaluate the efficacy of treatments during this treatment season to help guide future management actions.
For inquiries regarding algal blooms or health concerns, please reach out to South Carolina Dept. of Environmental Services – hab@des.sc.gov (803) 898-8374. Questions about aquatic vegetation in Lake Wateree should be directed to AquaticPlants@duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy Aquatic Plant Reporting Tool can be found at www.duke-energy.com/AquaticPlants.
Work has been coordinated through SCDES and includes licensed applicators.
7/9/2025