CHARLOTTE, N.C. – As the serious drought continues in the Piedmont section of North Carolina and South Carolina, Duke Power officials are announcing the temporary closing of several access areas on the lakes it manages.
The decision to close an access area is based on the unique characteristics of each area, such as location and individual design. While some access areas will have boating access ramps closed, fishing piers may remain open.
Boaters are encouraged to use extreme caution when launching and retrieving boats from any access area especially during this time. Additionally, lower lake levels may expose natural hazards, such as rocks and stumps.
“With little or no rainfall, ground water and inflows greatly reduced, our reservoir levels continue to drop,” said George Galleher, Duke Power, lake management manager. “Although we have reduced our reliance on hydroelectric generation by as much as 70 percent, we must continue to meet downstream needs by releasing water periodically. These two issues together result in lower lake levels and, unfortunately, access areas that are no longer safe to use.”
The following is a list of those access areas that are currently closed, as well as those that could be closed in the near future. This listing will be available and updated regularly on the Duke Power lake line: 1-800/829-LAKE or by viewing the “Lakes and Recreation” section at www.dukepower.com.
Lake James Access Areas
By mid-September, all public access areas on Lake James could be closed.
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Black Bear
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will be closed at 92 (compared to 100 being full pond)
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Linville
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closed
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Hidden Cove
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closed by N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation
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Canal Bridge
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will be closed at 91
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Lake Rhodhiss Access Areas
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Castle Bridge
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will be closed at 91
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Conley Creek
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will be closed at 97
|
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Rhodhiss left ramp
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will be closed at 90
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Rhodhiss right ramp
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will be closed at 94
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Lake Hickory Access Areas
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Gunpowder
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will be closed at 91
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Lovelady
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will be closed at 94
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Wittenburg
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will be closed at 91
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Oxford
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will be closed at 90
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Dusty Ridge
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will be closed at 93
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Lookout Shoals Access Areas
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Lookout
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will be closed at 91
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Sharon
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will be closed at 92
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Lake Norman Access Areas
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Long Island
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will be closed at 91
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Pinnacle
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will be closed at 91.5
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McCrary Creek
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will be closed at 91.5
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Stumpy Creek
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will be closed at 91
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Little Creek
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will be closed at 91
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Beatty’s Ford
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will be closed at 91
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Hager Creek
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will be closed at 91.5
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Ramsey Creek
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closed by Mecklenburg County
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Mountain Island Lake Access Areas
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Neck Road
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will be closed at 91
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Riverbend
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will be closed at 91
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Lake Wylie Access Areas
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Nivens Creek
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closed
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Buster Boyd
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will be closed at 91.5
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Allison Creek
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closed
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South Point
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closed
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Copperhead
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closed by Mecklenburg County
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Ebenezer
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closed
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Rocky Creek Access Areas
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Debutary Creek
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will be closed at 96
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Stumpy Pond
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will be closed at 98
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Lake Wateree Access Areas
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Cedar Creek
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closed
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Wateree Creek
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will be closed at 93
|
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Taylor Creek
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will be closed at 93
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Colonel’s Creek
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will be closed at 93
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June Creek
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will be closed at 93
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White Oak Creek
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closed
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Buck Hill
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closed
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Duke Power, a business unit of Duke Energy, is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities and provides safe, reliable, competitively priced electricity to approximately two million customers in North Carolina and South Carolina. Duke Power operates three nuclear generating stations, eight coal-fired stations, 31 hydroelectric stations and numerous combustion turbine units. Total system generating capability is approximately 19,300 megawatts. More information about Duke Power is available on the Internet at: www.dukepower.com.
Duke Energy is a diversified multinational energy company with an integrated network of energy assets and expertise. The company manages a dynamic portfolio of natural gas and electric supply, delivery and trading businesses – meeting the energy needs of customers throughout North America and in key markets around the world. Duke Energy, headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is a Fortune 100 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available on the Internet at: www.duke-energy.com.
