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.
Historical information about the Catawba basin is available by clicking here. A page about the eleven lakes of the Catawba and links to information about the individual lakes is here. Statistical information about the North Carolina lakes along the Catawba River is summarized below:
|
|
|||||||
|
Reservoir |
Drainage Basin Area |
Overall Capacity |
Working Capacity |
Surface Area |
Maximum Hydropower Output |
Mean Depth |
Mean Retention time |
|
|
km^2 |
MG |
MG |
km2 |
MW |
m |
days |
|
Lake James |
984.2 |
89710 |
8886 |
27.6 |
20 |
13.5 |
208 |
|
Lake Rhodhiss |
1838.9 |
15150 |
3990 |
12.4 |
26 |
6.3 |
21 |
|
Lake Hickory |
569.8 |
33660 |
3443 |
17.1 |
36 |
9.5 |
33 |
|
Lookout Shoals |
362.6 |
8146 |
1064 |
5.3 |
26 |
7.3 |
7 |
|
Lake Norman |
880.6 |
356400 |
63526 |
131.4 |
350 |
10.2 |
239 |
|
Mountain Island Lake |
181.3 |
18670 |
2675 |
13.3 |
60 |
5.4 |
12 |
|
Lake Wylie |
3004.4 |
74690 |
13150 |
54.4 |
60 |
7 |
39 |
|
Fishing Creek Lake |
|
19450 |
|
13.6 |
|
5.4 |
6 |
|
Great Falls & Rocky Creek |
|
|
|
1.9 |
|
|
|
|
Lake Wateree |
845.7 |
100987 |
|
56.1 |
|
6.9 |
27 |
Clicking on the following links will 
take you to the Duke Energy website for more information about each of the lakes along the Catawba River:
Rocky Creek, and
The photo above shows new development around Lake Norman. The map below shows the location of each of the lakes in the Catawba-Wateree River basin.
Document Actions
- Upcoming Events
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Lake Wylie Covekeeper Meeting
T-Bones on the Lake,
Feb 08, 2012 -
Lake James Covekeeper Meeting
4794 E. Shores Dr., Morganton, NC,
Feb 09, 2012 -
Lake Wateree Covekeeper Mtg
Dutchman Creek VFD,
Feb 09, 2012 -
Mountain Island Lake Covekeepers Monthly Meeting
Cook's Presbyterian Church,
Feb 13, 2012 -
Lake Hickory Covekeeper meeting
Hickory, NC,
Feb 20, 2012
- Covekeeper Meetings
-
Join us for our monthly Covekeeper Meetings:
Lake James: 2nd Thursday at 6:30 p.m. - 4794 E. Shores Dr., Morganton, NC.
Lake Hickory & Lake Rhodhiss: 3rd Monday at 7 p.m. - 320 Mauney Hall at Lenoir-Rhyne College
Lake Norman: 4th Thursday - East Lincoln Fire Department on South Pilot Knob Road off Hwy. 16.
Mountain Island Lake: 2nd Monday at 7 p.m. - Cooks Presbyterian Church
Lake Wylie: 2nd Wednesday at 7 p.m. - T-Bones on the Lake
Lake Wateree: 2nd Thursday at 7 p.m. - Dutchman Creek Fire Dept.
Please check the calendar section of the website to verify the meeting time and location.
- News
-
Jan 30, 2012
Catawba River One of Top 10 Endangered Places in the South
On January 26, 2012, the Southern Environmental Law Center announced its annual list of the Top 10 Endangered Places in the Solutheastern U.S. The Catawba-Wateree River was back on the list as the 3rd most endangered place in the Southeast because of the threats from coal ash, power plant water use and unnecessary reservoirs. -
Jan 26, 2012
Soil runoff from Target project still damaging stream
Catawba Riverkeeper volunteers have been closely monitoring the development of the new Target store near Cox Road and I-85. This project required moving a large portion of a hillside and rerouting a stream. As reported in the article, it is questionable about whether it is feasible to limit sedimentation in the short-term and whether the site will be stable over the long term.
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Jan 18, 2012
Catawba Riverkeeper Files Lawsuit Against SCE&G
On January 12, 2012, The Southern Environmental Law Center, on behalf of Catawba Riverkeeper, filed a lawsuit against SCE&G to require a cleanup of coal ash ponds with a long history of leakage.
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Jan 07, 2012
Coal Ash Dumping on the Rise
The Environmental Integrity Project reports that toxic coal ash dumping on the rise in the South.
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Dec 15, 2011
Concerns Raised Again About Coal Ash Pond on Wateree River
Coal ash pervasive: 2 billion pounds of power plant waste gets in ponds, landfills in SC.
- Alliances
-
The Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation is a proud member of EarthShare North Carolina, River Network, the North Carolina Conservation Network, and the Waterkeeper Alliance. EarthShare North Carolina makes it possible for employees to support the environment through workplace giving programs. River Network’s mission is to empower and unite people and communities to protect and restore rivers and other waters that sustain the health of our country. The NC Conservation Network supports, trains and coordinates diverse groups and directly advocates to achieve equitable and sustainable solutions for our environment. The Waterkeeper Alliance is a worldwide network of advocates for protection of our water resources. For more information about these organizations or to inquire about enrolling your employer in EarthShare NC, please contact CRF@catawbariverkeeper.org.
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- Report Pollution in the Catawba River
-
Help protect your River!
Tell your Riverkeeper if you see:
- Sewage Overflows
- Failure to control sediment from construction sites
- Illegal clearing of buffer areas
- Fish kills
- Invasive aquatic species
- Exceeding Pollution Limits
- Discharges exceeding allowable limits
- Unpermitted discharges
- Other issues that concern you
Click here to fill out a pollution report or
Call 1-888-679-9494 or 704-679-9494 (ext. 3)
- How to contact your NC Legislator
-
Sometimes you just can't get the action that is needed to protect our water without contacting your legislator. To find out who represents you in the North Carolina legislature and how to contact them, click here.
