Dominion Energy South Carolina has completed restoration work on the Saluda Shoals dam intake towers, marking the completion of a two-year project that began in 2024.
The five-tower array was refitted with new headgates that control the flow of water into the hydroelectric plant on the Lower Saluda River. The project also included masonry repairs to the historic brick towers.
The towers, which rise 223 feet above the lake, have served the Saluda Hydroelectric Project for approximately 100 years. During the restoration, divers secured the massive headgates with the assistance of cranes positioned on the surface.
A portion of nearby Lake Murray Park was closed during the project to provide space for staging equipment and supporting construction activities.
For boaters, a permanent 200-foot-radius exclusion zone around the intake towers remains in effect. The restricted area will be enforced by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
Photo: Dominion Energy South Carolina’s Saluda Hydroelectric Project. Courtesy of Dominion Energy.
