Lake Norman
Cowans Ford Dam created the largest manmade body of fresh water in North Carolina when it dammed the Catawba River in 1963. The total length of the facility is 7,387 feet, including more than a mile of earthen dam. The concrete portion of the dam is 1,279 feet long and 130 feet high.
Lake Norman is an "inland sea" with 520 miles of shoreline and a surface area of more than 32,475 acres. Named after former Duke Power president Norman Cocke, Lake Norman is nearly as large as the other ten lakes on the Catawba combined.
Full pond elevation at Lake Norman is 760 feet. The water of Lake Norman is used in two ways to provide electricity to the Piedmont Carolinas. It is used to power the generators at Cowans Ford Hydroelectric Station and by Marshall Steam Station and McGuire Nuclear Station to cool the steam that drives the turbines. This steam is condensed back to water so it can be pumped back through the plants and used again.
The lake provides a dependable supply of water to Lincoln County, Davidson, Mooresville, Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Huntersville, North Carolina.
Duke Energy partnered with the state in the establishment of the Lake Norman State Park. In addition, Duke Energy has built two bank fishing areas and eight public boating access areas along the shoreline. One site is leased to Mecklenburg County and one to Iredell County.
Public Access Areas
Upper Section
- Long Island Access Area
- Lake Norman State Park 1-704-528-6350
- Bill's Marina 1-704-241-3438
- Long Island Marina 1-828-241-4877
- Stumpy Creek Access Area (Leased to Iredell County)
- McCrary Creek Access Area
- Pinnacle Access Area
- Marshall Fishing Area
- North Bridge Marina 1-704-663-4600
- River City Marina 1-704-663-6600
- Skipper's Marina 1-704-528-9880
Lower Section
- Lake Norman Marina 1-704-483-5546
- Mountain Creek Marina 1-704-483-0077
- Lake Norman Motel, Restaurant & Marina 1-704-478-2817
- The Boat Rack Marina 1-704-478-2118
- Hager Creek Access Area
- Little Creek Access Area
- Westport Dry Storage 1-704-483-5172
- Holiday Harbor 1-704-892-0561
- Beatties Ford Access Area
- Jetton Road County Park (Operated by Mecklenburg County) 1-704-896-9808
- Ramsey Creek Access Area (Leased to Mecklenburg County) 1-704-892-7852
- McGuire Fishing Area
- EnergyExplorium
- Blythe Landing County Park (Operated by Mecklenburg County) 1-704-896-9808
- All Seasons Marina 1-704-892-3478
- Stutts Bait & Tackle 1-704-664-3106
- Inland Sea Marina 1-704-664-4414
Upper Section
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Long Island Access Area |   |
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Lake Norman State Park | |
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Bill's Marina |    |
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Long Island Marina | |
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Stumpy Creek Access Area |  |
| (Leased to Iredell County) | ||
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McCrary Creek Access Area | |
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Pinnacle Access Area | |
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Marshall Fishing Area | |
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North Bridge Marina | |
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River City Marina | |
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Skipper's Marina | |
Lower Section
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Lake Norman Marina | |
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Mountain Creek Marina | |
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Lake Norman Motel, Restaurant & Marina | |
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The Boat Rack Marina | |
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Hager Creek Access Area | |
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Little Creek Access Area | |
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Westport Dry Storage | |
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Holiday Harbor | |
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Beatties Ford Access Area | |
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Jetton Road County Park (Operated by Mecklenburg County) | |
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Ramsey Creek Access Area (Leased to Mecklenburg County) | |
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McGuire Fishing Area | |
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EnergyExplorium |  |
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Blythe Landing County Park (Operated by Mecklenburg County) | |
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All Seasons Marina | |
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Stutts Bait & Tackle | |
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Inland Sea Marina | |
