Santee River River Levels

Last Updated: December 24, 2025

The Santee River is a 143-mile-long blackwater river in South Carolina.


Summary

Total streamflow across the Santee River was last observed at 679 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 1,347 acre-ft of water today; about 6% of normal. River levels are low and may signify a drought. Average streamflow for this time of year is 11,385 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2016-01-05 when daily discharge volume was observed at 166,900 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Santee River Near Pineville reporting a streamflow rate of 679 cfs. This is also the highest stage along the Santee River, with a gauge stage of 2.14 ft at this location. This river is monitored from 2 different streamgauging stations along the Santee River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 25 ft, the Santee River Near Pineville.

River Details

Last Updated 2025-12-24
Discharge Volume 1,347 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 679.0 cfs
-1163.0 cfs (-63.14%)
Percent of Normal 5.96%
Maximum 166,900.0 cfs
2016-01-05
Seasonal Avg 11,385 cfs
       
River Streamflow Levels
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Santee River Near Pineville
USGS 02171500
679 cfs 2.14 ft 4.14
Santee River Nr Jamestown
USGS 02171700
476 cfs 2.05 ft -60
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile

The Santee River is a river in South Carolina in the United States, and is 143 miles (230 km) long. The Santee and its tributaries provide the principal drainage for the coastal areas of southeastern South Carolina and navigation for the central coastal plain of South Carolina, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean approximately 440 miles (708 km) from its farthest headwater on the Catawba River in North Carolina. The Santee River is the second largest river on the eastern coast of the United States, second only to the Susquehanna River in drainage area and flow. Much of the upper river is impounded by the expansive, horn-shaped Lake Marion reservoir, formed by the 8-mile (13 km)-long Santee Dam. The dam was built during the Great Depression of the 1930s as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project to provide a major source of hydroelectric power for the state of South Carolina.