About the Catawba-Wateree River Basin
The Catawba-Wateree River Basin extends from the headwaters of the Catawba on the slopes of Grandfather Mountain near Blowing Rock, NC to Lake Marion near Columbia, SC. Information about the Catawba-Wateree River basin, including maps, historical information, water quality information and links to other sources of information is included below.
- Lower Catawba-Wateree River Basin Map
- Map of the lower Catawba-Wateree River basin showing access points for canoes and kayaks, locations or major discharges, locations of pollution events and other places of interest.
- Upper Catawba River Basin Map
- Map of the upper and middle portions of the Catawba River basin showing access points for canoes and kayaks, locations of major dischargers, locations of pollutions events and other places of interest.
- Linville Gorge
- Aerial photo of Linville Gorge by J. Wes. Bobbitt. Flight provided by Southwings.
- About the Catawba-Wateree River
- The Catawba River and the Wateree River are essentially one river that begins in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina and flows through the Charlotte metropolitan area into Lake Wateree in South Carolina. The name of the river changes to the Wateree River in Lake Wateree and eventually joins with the Congaree River in Lake Marion.
- Lowes Headquarters on Lake Norman
- medium size, 660 x 1083 aerial photo of Lowes Headquarters on Lake Norman. photo credit, Wes Bobbit at bottom
- Lakes
- There are eleven major lakes in the basin and the dams that form these lakes have a major impact on the flow of the river.
- Catawba subbasins in North Carolina
- Map of NC section of the Catawba showing sub-basins.
- Line Map of the Catawba in NC
- large, 1300 x 1124 pixel image of Catawba River and its lakes in NC
- Catawba-Wateree Basin Map from USGS
- medium size, 637 x 877 gif map of Catawba/Wateree rivers basin with labeled counties and NC & SC area locator graphic
- Maps of the Catawba-Wateree Basin
- Links to maps of the Catawba and Wateree Rivers are listed below (under the map of the basin):
- Catawba River Lakes and Dams
- small, 537 x 534 pixel map of Catawba River, dams and tributaries in NC & SC
- Upper Catawba River Trail Brochure - Front
- Brochure showing locations of canoe and kayak trail on the Upper Section of the Catawba River from Lake James to Lookout Shoals Lake.
- Access on the South Fork of the Catawba
- Description of the put-in and take out points on the South Fork of the Catawba near Spencer Mountain.
- Native-American Settlement
- small B&W drawing of Native-American settlement along the Catawba.
- 1800s Harvest in Catawba Valley Burke County
- medium size B&W historical photo of 1800s Harvest in Catawba Valley, Burke County, NC
- 1860s - General Shermans 14th corps crossing the Catawba near "Rocky Hill" SC
- small, 440 x 329 B&W image (line drawing) of 1860s - General Shermans 14th corps crossing the Catawba near "Rocky Hill" South Carolina.
- 1916-07 Catawba Flood near Ft Mill SC So Rwy Bridge
- medium size, 700 x 449 pixel historical B&W photo of 1916-07 Catawba Flood damage near Ft Mill, SC So Rwy Bridge. Duplicate on server. #2
- 1916-07 Catawba Flood near Ft Mill SC So Rwy Bridge
- medium size, 700 x 449 pixel historical B&W photo of 1916-07 Catawba Flood damage near Ft Mill, SC So Rwy Bridge. Duplicates on server. #1
- Early History of the Catawba-Wateree River
- The basin has a long and colorful history that includes an advanced native-American civilization, America's first declaration of independence, America's first gold rush, an early canal system, the harnessing the of the river for cotton mills, the harnessing of the river to generate electricity and many other events.
- History of Nations Ford
- The Nation Ford and Nation Ford Road have witnessed an extraordinary span of human history. From the days of pre-history when Catawbas and other Native Americans traveled the trail and fished the river to the coming of European traders and settlers; from ancient battles between Indian tribes to the struggles of the American Revolution and Civil War; from the passage of common men to the flight of a President and his crumbling Cabinet; from the flames of armed conflict to the destruction of raging floods; from travel on foot and horseback to the coming of the railroad; from the early grist mill to the textile age. Through all these events, the Nation Ford Road had helped to shape our modern world.
- Landsford Canal Chanel and Bridge
- 392 x 500 pixel B&W photo of Landsford Canal Chanel and Bridge
- Post-Civil War History of the Basin
- After the Civil War, the Catawba Basin was transformed from a rural backwater to a major textile manufacturing center, transportation hub, and financial center.
- Lake Wylie Dam after 1916 Flood
- medium size 600 x 319 pixel B&W historical photo of Lake Wylie Dam after 1916 Flood. Larger version elsewhere on server.
- Water icon
- Water icon
- Coal fired powerplant icon
- Coal fired powerplant icon
- Nuclear icon
- Nuclear icon
- Red pushpin icon
- Red pushpin icon
- Maps of the Basin
- Links to maps containing information about the Catawba-Wateree River basin.
- Water Facts
- Information about water quality and water quantity issues in the Catawba-Wateree River Basin
- 2007 Brochure about the Catawba Basin
- Brochure prepared by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources with information about the Catawba basin.
- Water Quantity and Water Quality Information
- Information about hydrological issues, including water quality and water quantity, in the Catawba-Wateree River Basin.
- Catawba History
- Information about the history of the Catawba River basin.
- Hiking & Camping
- Information about hiking and camping in the Catawba Basin.
- The Land of the Sky and Beyond (1895 ?) by Frank Presbrey 1
- The Land of the Sky and Beyond (1895 ?) by Frank Presbrey 1
- The Land of the Sky and Beyond (1895 ?) by Frank Presbrey 2
- The Land of the Sky and Beyond (1895 ?) by Frank Presbrey
- The Land of the Sky and Beyond
- Excerpt from The Land of the Sky and Beyond (1895 ?) by Frank Presbrey, which describes the train ride from Old Fort to Asheville, through the headwaters of the Catawba.
- Landsford Canal - Where Rocks and History Intertwine
- Information about the history and geology of Landsford Canal.
- Ft Dobbs
- Ft. Dobbs
- Great Falls of the Catawba
- Great Falls of the Catawba
- Battle of Cowans Ford
- Battle of Cowans Ford February 1, 1781.
- The Great Wagon Road in NC
- The Great Wagon Road in NC showing fords over the Catawba River
- The Great Wagon Road in NC
- Map showing the route of the Great Wagon Road from Philadelphia and the various fords across the Catawba River.
- Paddling the Catawba-Wateree River
- Information about paddling trips on the Catawba-Wateree River.
- Upper Catawba River Basin
- Information about the upper Catawba River basin, including the Linville River, Johns River, Wilson Creek, Little River, upper South Fork River, Henry Fork and other tributaries of the Catawba River above Lake Norman.
- 2010 Mecklenburg County State of the Environment Report
- The State of the Environment Report was established in 1987 with the purpose of describing Mecklenburg County’s current environmental status for the public and the Board of County Commissioners; to give the County objective measures to evaluate progress toward a clean, healthy environment; to highlight the major issues facing the County; and recommend direction concerning those issues. Appreciation to the 2010 Mecklenburg County Chapter Editors: Megan Green – Air Quality Chapter Sharon Foote – Groundwater and Surface Water Chapters Michael Kirschman – Land Chapter Laurette Hall – Solid Waste Chapter
- Original Riverkeeper
- Robert Davidson of Holly Bend (near Mountain Island Lake) may be the original Catawba Riverkeeper. In 1797 Robin Davidson was appointed as “Overseer and Commissioner” for that part of the Catawba River from Dutchman’s Creek to Tools Ford.
- Map of Pollution Events in the Region
- SkyTruth interactive map showing location of reported pollution incidents in the region.
