Catawba-Wateree Recreation Enhancements

Fishing piers, beaches, trails, restrooms planned for rivers and lakes

Duke Energy is upgrading and adding new recreation access areas at many of its Catawba-Wateree hydro reservoirs. New amenities include boat launches, picnic facilities, fishing piers, swim beaches, camping areas, trails, restrooms and parking. These enhancements are a result of commitments made by Duke Energy and 69 other stakeholders in the Comprehensive Relicensing Agreement signed in 2006 and required by the company’s hydroelectric operating license issued in 2015 by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Between 2015 and 2035, Duke Energy will upgrade 32 existing recreation sites and construct facilities at 26 new sites under the Catawba Wateree Recreation Management Plan, on reservoirs extending from Lake James in North Carolina to Lake Wateree in South Carolina.

Additional information on planned recreation enhancements and the federally approved Catawba-Wateree Recreation Management Plan can be found at duke-energy.com/community/lakes/recreation-information.

New recreation enhancements coming to Catawba reservoirs

Lake James

• Bridgewater Portage – canoe/kayak portage trail upgrade (open)
• Black Bear Access Area – camping sites, picnic facilities, fishing pier, trails, restrooms (under construction)
• Muddy Creek Access Area – canoe/kayak launch, parking area (open)

Lake Rhodhiss

• Rhodhiss Access Area – restrooms (open)
• Corpening Bridge Access Area – boat launch, parking, wildlife viewing facility (open)
• Conley Creek Access Area – hiking trail (under construction)

Lookout Shoals Lake

• Lookout Shoals Access Area – restrooms (open)

Lake Hickory

• Wittenburg Access Area – restrooms, picnic facilities, paved parking, swim beach (under construction)

Lake Norman

• Beatty’s Ford Access Area – fishing pier, swim beach, additional parking (opening 2023)
• Hagers Creek Access Area – picnic facilities, fishing pier and bank fishing stations, trails, restrooms, more parking (open)

Mountain Island Lake

• Highway 73 Access Area – boat launch, parking area (open)
• Lucia Access Area ― canoe/kayak launch, wildlife viewing facility, parking area (open)

Lake Wylie

• Dutchman’s Creek Access Area – canoe/kayak launch, parking area (open)
• Buster Boyd Access Area – restrooms (open)
• Rock Hill Park – swim area, picnic facilities, bank fishing stations and trail, restrooms, parking (opening 2022)
• South Point Access Area – swim area, picnic facilities, fishing piers, bank fishing area, trails, restroom, parking (under construction)
• Allison Creek Access Area – picnic facilities, restrooms, trails, parking (under construction)

Fishing Creek Reservoir

• Springs Park Access Area – fishing pier, bank fishing trail, additional parking (open)

Great Falls Reservoir (includes recreation flow releases into bypassed reaches, beginning in 2023)

• Nitrolee Access Area – canoe/kayak launch, restroom, parking, interpretive display of historic structure (to open in coordination with recreation flow releases)

Lake Wateree

• Wateree Creek Access Area – fishing pier, picnic facilities, restrooms, additional parking (open)
• Molly Creek Access Area – boat ramps, swim beach, bank and pier fishing, picnic facilities, trails, restrooms, parking (open)
• Colonel’s Creek Access Area – boat courtesy dock, swim area, picnic facilities, restrooms, additional parking (under construction)