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Lake Wateree Drawdown

Rachael Rosenstein • Oct 11, 2022

Lake Wateree Drawdown

Lake Wateree is the downstream most reservoir within the Catawba-Wateree watershed and as such, it is subject to increased occurrences and severity of flooding. During the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) relicensing in 2015, residents in Lancaster, Fairfield, and Kershaw counties requested that Duke Energy remedy this issue. The company has hired an engineering firm who will be removing roughly the top 5 ft of the dam spillways to install flood gates. This will allow Duke to pass more water through dam during and before rain events to alleviate flooding of Lake Wateree shoreline. In order to safely complete this construction project, water levels in the lake need to be lowered. 

The drawdown of water will begin on October 15, 2022 with decreasing levels through November 15, 2022. Water will be lowered at a rate of about 0.1 foot each day with an ultimate goal of reaching 93.5 feet. The water level will fluctuate between 93.5 and full pond for approximately 14-16 months depending on construction requirements and rainfall. The lake will still be open for use, but some public launches may close. Existing channel, shoal, and hazard buoys will remain in place for the duration of the drawdown. However, it is important to use extra caution because hazards that were previously covered such stumps and rocks fallen trees, may become exposed.

The drawdown period also provides a great opportunity for residents to perform native plant shoreline stabilization, maintenance on their docks, and other such activities within the uncovered areas.

05 Apr, 2024
Happy Earth Month! While every month is Earth Month here at Catawba Riverkeeper, we’re excited about the extra attention and enthusiasm for protecting our local environment that comes every April! Throughout this month, we're amplifying our efforts to spread awareness and provide a variety of options for you to get out and learn from, engage in, or advocate for the preservation, protection, and restoration of our shared waterways. Because of that, our calendar is jam-packed with public and private cleanups, guided tours, education programing, outreach events, and fun activities at Confluence & The River Room all month long. Just take a look at some of the events we have going on! In honor of Earth Month, we hope that you engage with us in some of these events by volunteering your time to clean up our water, learning more about issues affecting our water, and sharing our work and mission with other people as ambassadors. If you'd like to make an Earth Month contribution to Catawba Riverkeeper, you can give to our Spring Education Appeal, help us purchase a new Catawba Riverkeeper vehicle, or attend our Ambassador Training and represent us at events throughout the year. Our work is not possible without the support of people like you. We are only a drop in the bucket of worldwide water conservation efforts, but with the support of people like you, we can make mighty waves of change! Thank you in advance for your support, and happy Earth Month!
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