The following sections summarize the recreation access areas and facilities for each lake within the Catawba-Wateree Project area. The recreation use characteristics, based on the survey and interview data, are described for each lake. The boat carrying capacity is assessed for each lake based on the aerial boat count data collected during the 1999 study period. Finally, the survey respondents' comments about recreation facility needs and concerns and comments about their recreational experiences are summarized for each lake.

Lake James is the northernmost reservoir in the Catawba-Wateree system, located northwest of Morganton in Burke and McDowell counties, North Carolina. Lake James has a surface area of about 6,812 acres and 137.3 shoreline miles at full pond elevation of 1,200 feet mean sea level (msl). Table 4.1-1 summarizes the shoreline classification for Lake James, based on the SMP maps.

There are 5 developed Duke Power-owned public recreation access locations (with two leased to NCDPR) on Lake James and 1 state park, Lake James State Park. Figure 4.1-1 shows the public recreation access locations. In addition, there are 4 commercial non-residential marinas that provide additional public access on Lake James. The following sections describe the Duke-owned public access areas, summarize the facilities at the state park, and provide estimates of the number and type of commercial recreational access facilities at Lake James.

Click Here to View Full Figure 4.1-1 Lake James Public Recreation Access Areas

Existing Duke-Owned Public Access Areas

The developed Duke-owned public access areas provide about 404 acres and about 32,139 feet of shoreline frontage of public access at Lake James. Combined, the developed access areas have 13 public boat ramps, 6 loading piers, and about 23 car and 345 vehicle/trailer parking spaces. Table 4.1-2 summarizes the facilities at the public access areas.

In the 1994 SMP Duke Power proposed to improve the Canal Bridge access area (replace the 2 boat ramps with 3 new boat ramps and install a loading pier), relocate the North Fork access area (install 6 new boat ramps, 3 loading piers, 165 paved parking spaces, light the area and provide bank fishing), and construct a canoe portage. In addition, Duke Power said it would provide 180 acres at the relocated North Fork site (164 acres provided), add 109 acres to the Linville site (174 acres added) and add 25 acres to the Bridgewater Fishing Area (35 added). All of the recreation commitments from the 1994 SMP have been met.

* Vehicle/Trailer parking areas

State and County Public Recreation Facilities

There is one state park, Lake James State Park, located in the central portion Lake James and owned and operated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Health and Natural Resources (DEHNR), Division of Parks and Recreation (DPR). Table 4.1-3 summarizes the site acreage, shoreline footage, and recreational facilities provided at the Lake James State Park (not including Hidden Cove and Canal Bridge access areas). The state has leased the Hidden Cove and Canal Bridge access areas, and these areas are run in conjunction with Lake James State Park.

Existing Commercial and Private Recreation Access

In addition to the Duke-owned public access areas and the state park, the public can gain access to Lake James through commercial non-residential and commercial residential marinas. Private access to Lake James is through private marinas and private piers along the Lake James shoreline. Table 4.1-4 summarizes the number and type of public and private commercial non-residential and commercial residential marina facilities. Table 4.1-5 shows the estimated number of private piers.

Site-Specific Descriptions of Existing Duke-owned Public Access Areas at Lake James

The following section provides a description of each Duke-owned public access area located on Lake James, including a photograph, site characterisitics, site recreation facilities, and key recreation activities.

Black Bear Access Area

The Black Bear access area is located in the upper portion of Lake James along the northern shoreline near Hankins, North Carolina. Table 4.1-6 summarizes key site characteristics for the Black Bear access area.

Hidden Cove Access Area

The Hidden Cove access area is located in the middle portion of Lake James along the southern shoreline on Highway 126 in McDowell County, North Carolina. Table 4.1-7 summarizes key site characteristics for the Hidden Cove access area. This site is leased to the State of North Carolina.

Canal Bridge Access Area

The Canal Bridge access area is located in the middle portion of Lake James on the southern shoreline, off Highway 126 in Burke County, North Carolina. Table 4.1-8 summarizes key site characteristics for the Canal Bridge access area. This site is leased to the State of North Carolina.

Linville Access Area

The Linville access area is located off Highway 126 in the lower portion of Lake James along the northern shoreline in Burke County, North Carolina. Table 4.1-9 summarizes key site characteristics for the Linville access area.

Bridgewater Fishing Area

The Bridgewater Fishing Area is located below the tailrace of Bridgewater Hydroelectric Station in Burke County, North Carolina. Table 4.1-10 summarizes key site characteristics for the Bridgewater Fishing Area.

Recreation Use

Visitation at the public access areas on Lake James was derived based on estimates of the traffic entering the Duke-owned public access areas. Total estimated visitation during the 1999 study period for Lake James at these sites was about 220,143 visits. Figure 4.1-7 shows the distribution of the visitation for each month at Lake James for the Duke-owned public access areas during the 1999 study period. A visit is considered a vehicle or vehicle/trailer entering the site for any part of a day.

Table 4.1-11 provides a summary of the estimated recreation visitation based on the traffic counter data for the sampled sites during the 1999 study period. Of the Lake James Duke Power-owned access areas, Black Bear, Canal Bridge, and Linville were estimated to have the greatest amount of use at about 37 percent, 27 percent, and 21 percent, respectively, of the total estimated use at the Lake James Duke-owned access areas.

Spot counts were conducted at two sites for Lake James, Black Bear and Linville Access areas. Table 4.1-12 lists the number of sample days per month for the spot count data collection.

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Based on survey data input, the estimated ratio for annual visits to the project area for Survey B respondents (respondents that use both public and private access areas) as compared to Survey C respondents (respondents at the public access areas) was about a ratio of 1.41 to 1. Accordingly, the estimated overall recreational visitation for Lake James for the 1999 study period totaled 311,258 visits.

The total number of surveys received for each survey is listed in Table 4.1-13. Survey D was conducted of marina operators, therefore numbers of surveys sent and received were low. Figure 4.1-8 shows the distribution of recreation activity type for Survey A, Survey B, and Survey C categories. Figure 4.1-9 shows the distribution of recreation activity type combining data from Surveys A, B, and C; spot counts; and tailrace counts. Based on the combined data sources, the primary recreation activities for Lake James during the 1999 study period were boat fishing, bank/pier fishing, motor boating, and swimming. For Lake James, respondents indicated that for Survey A, about 22 percent recreated on the islands, for Survey B about 46 percent, and 0 percent for Survey C. The combined responses to Surveys A, B, and C indicated that about 19 percent overall recreated on the islands of Lake James. The respondents indicated that the majority of the island activity included swimming, picnicking, and camping.

For Lake James, the average party size (average number of recreators in each party) for respondents to Survey A was 4.0 people, Survey B was 4.7 people, and Survey C was 2.9. The average party size for all three groups (A, B, and C) was 3.7. The average number of visits per year for Survey B was 51.6, Survey C was 20.8, and combined Survey B and C respondents was 33.6. The average length of stay for Survey B respondents was 8.3 hours, for Survey C respondents was 4.3 hours, and for combined Survey B and C respondents was 5.9 hours. In response to which lake they primarily recreated on within the Catawba-Wateree system, respondents to Surveys A and B indicated that Lake James received about 5 percent of the total visitation.

Table 4.1-14 summarizes the perceived crowding ratings for Lake James for each survey type, including responses to Surveys D and E and a combined rating for Survey A, B, and C responses. Recreators on Lake James (Surveys A, B, and C) indicated that weekday crowding was about mid-range (on a scale of 1 to 5). Weekend crowding was rated as upper mid-range for survey respondents to Surveys A and B, and low for respondents at the public access areas (Survey C). The marina owners indicated low crowding levels during the week and mid-range on the weekends, while the lake rescue and management groups indicated mid-range crowding ratings for weekdays and weekends.