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 River Lakes and Dams

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 Lowes Headquarters on Lake Normantake you to the Duke Energy website for more information about each of the lakes along the Catawba River:

Lake James,

Lake Rhodhiss,

Lake Hickory,

Lookout Shoals,

Lake Norman,

Mountain Island Lake,

Lake Wylie,

Fishing Creek,

Great Falls,

Rocky Creek, and

Lake Wateree.

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.

 

 

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News
May 21, 2013 State Files Lawsuit Against Duke Energy for Illegal Discharges from Coal Ash Waste Ponds
On May 20, in response to a Notice of Intent to Sue filed by Catawba Riverkeeper and SELC, the State of North Carolina filed an amended complaint against Duke Energy for illegal discharges documented by Catawba Riverkeeper. These illegal discharges of arsenic and other toxic substances into Mountain Island Lake threaten the drinking water supply for approximately 860,000 people in the Charlotte area.
May 15, 2013 Radiation Leak at Catawba Nuclear Station
On May 15, 2013, Duke Energy reported a leak of of radioactive Tritium at the Catawba Nuclear Station on Lake Wylie. The available information raises more questions than answers.
May 09, 2013 Public Officials Request that People Stay Off the River
High water levels in the lakes, and unusually high flows and fast-moving water in the riverine sections of the River, are combining to make the River unsafe for swimming and paddling. Trees, debris and sewage are being carried with the floodwaters. PLEASE DON'T ADD TO THE BURDEN OF ALREADY STRESSED EMERGENCY RESPONDERS BY DOING SOMETHING DUMB WHICH REQUIRES THEM TO COME RESCUE YOU!
May 07, 2013 Rains Bring Sewage Spills, Trash and Floods
Recent rains have lead to a rash of sewage spills, large amounts of trash in the streams and river, as well as flooding. This doesn't have to happen!
May 06, 2013 Special Interest Money Puts Garden Parkway Back on Priority List
URGENT CALL TO ACTION – STOP THE UNDEAD TOLL ROAD. YOUR PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS NEEDED BY TUESDAY MAY 7.
More news…
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 
  • Unpermitted discharges
  • Other issues that concern you

Click here to fill out a pollution report or to report water pollution to Catawba Riverkeeper by phone, call 1-888-679-9494 or 704-679-9494.  In addition, to informing your Riverkeeper, you should also report spills or contamination to federal, state and local environmental officials.

To report South Carolina water pollution call 1-888-481-0125.

To report North Carolina spills or fish kills, call your local regional Department of Environment & Natural Resources office during normal business hours (704-663-1699 for most Catawba basin areas or (828) 296-4500 for Burke, Caldwell, McDowell and other mountain counties) or 800-858-0368 after hours.  (For more information on NC spill reporting, click here)

Alliances

The Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation is a proud member of EarthShare North Carolina, the North Carolina Conservation Network, River Network and the Waterkeeper Alliance.  

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