Public access to Lake Murray, Lake Monticello severely restricted due to coronavirus

This story was updated 12:25 p.m. March 31 to reflect Gov. Henry McMaster’s order closing boat ramps and beaches.

Lake operations have changed while South Carolina deals with the coronavirus pandemic.

While the lake is still accessible to residents with direct, private access to the water, Lake Murray and Lake Monticello boat ramps and public access points are closed. On March 30, Gov. Henry McMaster issued an order forcing public beach access points and public boat ramps in the state to close.

Other states and local governments have also closed access to beaches, bodies of water, boat ramps and marinas as part of their efforts to create “social distance” between people.

On March 23, McMaster asked South Carolinians to avoid groups of three or more people, and to stay six feet away from others. That was the most aggressive guidance to date from S.C. officials, who are struggling to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus that has infected hundreds and is projected to sicken thousands.

McMaster asked law enforcement officers to clear the state’s beaches in mid-March after crowds of Spring Breakers descended upon the coast, flouting advice from epidemiologists. Several municipalities in South Carolina also cut off or restricted public beach access: Hilton Head, Alljoy Beach (Bluffton), Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island and Edisto Beach.

Unlike South Carolina’s public beaches, Lake Murray is largely residential and most friendly to boaters, but there are some areas that are popular gathering spots.

On March 26, Dominion Energy, the private utility that owns and runs Lake Murray, indefinitely delayed the opening date of its recreation area and beach on the Lexington side of the dam. The Lexington park — which includes the lake’s one public beach accessible by land — usually opens in early April. The Irmo park, which is mainly used for its boat ramp, is open all year. Dominion announced it would close that boat ramp, along with its ramps on Lake Monticello, on March 31.

Dreher Island State Park, like all South Carolina state parks, will be closed from March 28 until April 30, officials announced Friday.

While those with private access can still go out on Lake Murray, boating or swimming, “we ask people to practice social distancing,” said Miriam Atria, president and CEO of Capital City/Lake Murray Country. Atria said the tourism arm’s events have all been rescheduled.

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department both told The State on March 23 that they had not changed their operations at Lake Murray in light of the coronavirus.

This story was originally published March 24, 2020 at 9:07 AM.