Proposed Recreational Enhancements

Based on comments received from the Recreation Use and Needs Survey conducted for Duke Power in 1999, the respondents indicated a need for picnicking, better boat ramps, more parking areas, more trash pick up and restroom facilities on Rocky Creek Lake. Through Duke Power’s general improvement plan the boat ramps will be improved in the next 5 years to meet the identified needs.

Additional picnicking, more parking areas and other facilities may be installed as Duke Power begins accepting access area lease requests by non-agency groups for the access areas not leased to the agencies. The non-agency groups had to wait until after June 1, 2000 (the deadline for agencies to submit an application, plan and schedule) before Duke Power would consider accepting their applications.

Based on the projected population increases, facility standards and estimated acreage needs for the facility class, approximately 2 acres will be needed through 2050 to meet future recreational facility demand. Currently 21 acres of mainland and 995 acres of islands have been reserved for recreational use. The land is good topographically and will be able to support the facilities identified by the survey respondents in the Recreation Use and Needs Study.

Currently there are two boat ramps on Rocky Creek Lake with one on each side of the reservoir. The reservoir’s small size, remote location and low visitation do not indicate a need for additional boat ramps. If a future need arises, the Debutary Creek access area can be expanded to add 1 boat ramp.

Survey respondents indicated they would like to see restrooms and better boat ramps. Duke Power does not propose to provide restrooms at these unsupervised sites because of the potential vandalism to the facilities. One boat ramp location was upgraded in the first five-year SMP and the remaining boat ramp will be improved in the next SMP period.

The following is a description of the known proposed recreational changes for Rocky Creek Lake:

Duke Power Access

Stumpy Pond Access Area, Lancaster County, South Carolina

Duke Power proposes to replace the existing boat ramp at this site within the next 5 years.