Project Area Description
The Catawba-Wateree Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2232) is located on the Catawba River, which begins in western North Carolina and flows easterly and southerly into South Carolina, where it joins Big Wateree Creek to form the Wateree River (see Figure 1.1-1). The Catawba-Wateree Project is comprised of 13 hydropower plants and 11 developments, including the James (Bridgewater), Rhodhiss, Hickory (Oxford), Lookout Shoals, Norman (Cowans Ford), Mountain Island, Wylie, Fishing Creek, Great Falls, Cedar Creek, and Wateree reservoirs. The Catawba-Wateree Project spans over 200 river miles and encompasses approximately 1,800 miles of shoreline within nine counties in North Carolina and five counties in South Carolina.
Summary of Catawba-Wateree Project Reservoir Characteristics
| Reservoir | Full Pond Contour (MSL) | Surface Area (acres) | Shoreline Miles* | Island Acreage | County/State |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James | 1200.0 | 6,754 | 153.0 | 91 | Burke/McDowell, North Carolina |
| Rhodhiss | 995.1 | 2,724 | 106.8 | 2 | Burke/Caldwell, North Carolina |
| Hickory | 935.0 | 4,072 | 115.7 | 0 | Alexander/Burke/Caldwell/ Catawba, North Carolina |
| Lookout Shoals | 838.1 | 1,155 | 35.2 | 27 | Alexander/Catawba/Iredell, North Carolina |
| Norman | 760.0 | 32,339 | 603.1 | 175 | Mecklenburg/Iredell/ Catawba/Lincoln, North Carolina |
| Mountain Island | 647.5 | 3,117 | 96.5 | 47 | Mecklenburg/Lincoln/ Gaston, North Carolina |
| Wylie | 569.4 | 12,177 | 348.5 | 35 | Gaston/Mecklenburg, North Carolina/York, South Carolina |
| Fishing Creek | 417.2 | 3,431 | 85.1 | 62 | Lancaster/Chester, South Carolina |
| Great Falls | 355.8 | 353 | 13.1 | 806 | Chester/Lancaster/ Fairfield, South Carolina |
| Wateree | 225.5 | 13,025 | 214.9 | 56 | Lancaster/Kershaw/ Fairfield, South Carolina |
| Total | 79,895 | 1,795.1 | 1,419 |
* Estimate includes reservoir shoreline and island shoreline miles at full pond.
