Lake Murray nears its typical yearly death toll. And summer hasn’t started yet.

Lake Murray averages one to four fatalities a year; April had three alone, fueling concerns about boating safety, a growing population and what summer could bring.

Accidental drownings account for a large share of lake fatalities. A 75-year-old woman’s body was found near the Irmo side of the dam in early April. The drowning appeared to be an accident according to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Two other April drownings remain under investigation.

Lake Murray Association President Jim Rund said boating season could bring even more. The association is a nonprofit that through membership supports water quality monitor, advocates for safety and environmental protections.

“It’s a beautiful lake,” Rund said. “We want to keep it that way, but it’s attracting more people, and we’re getting a greater population around the lake.”

More people means more inexperienced boaters, Rund said.

How fast is the lake growing?

It isn’t just Lake Murray that’s growing – it’s all of the Midlands.

Lexington County which covers the largest portion of the Lake Murray shoreline, grew by 8% over the past five years according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Richland County’s Lake Murray neighborhoods grew by more than 11% over the same period.

Locals are not the only concern for lake safety. State tourism hit a record $31 billion in 2025 according to the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism.

Boaters who have never been on the lake are at greater risk of drowning or needing rescue, Rund said. Even Midlands residents should be cautious because boating conditions on the lake are always changing, he said.

What risks should boaters know?

The No. 1 prevention is to “be a smart boater,” Rund said. “Be aware of what’s going on, on the lake that day. Be aware of other boaters.”

April to July pose the biggest risks according to reports from the S.C. Department of Natural Resources. Those months coincide with peak tourism and prime lake weather.

Summer brings concerns beyond heavy boat traffic: alcohol use, young boaters and the limited availability of Lake Murray’s free-use life jackets.

“People that fail to wear life jackets are probably the majority of those who drown,” Rund said. “Recently there were incidents involving people that were not strong swimmers. That’s a big deal.”

Alcohol increases risk by impairing judgment and coordination. Drowning can be a lot different from people tend to think, Rund said.

“If they go in the water and they’re not expecting it, or it is a sudden shock, they may have that instant reaction to gasp,” Rund said. “And if they’re underwater, they’ll suck in water.”’

Young boaters and those unfamiliar with the lake sometimes go too fast and hit shoals or rocks, which has caused many of the lake’s wrecks, Rund said. Knowing the lake can be the difference between a close call and an accident.

What are the danger zones?

Navigating high risk areas and hazards along the lake can be difficult without familiarity, Rund said. “There are certain channels that get crowded for example, because people are going in and out of that area.”

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources offers a boating course to help residents become more comfortable on the lake. The department said that Lake Murray averages 10 to 20 boating accidents every year and there has been one drowning fatality each year since 2023.

Accident and drowning risks increase in high traffic areas according to the Department of Natural Resources. The Dreher Shoals Dam area and the northeast shoreline where a number of marinas are located can be especially busy. Open water near Bomb Island can also see congestion during summer months.

Other parts of the lake can be unusually crowded depending on the day, Rund said. “You just have to be familiar with it.”