Lake Norman, the largest reservoir in the Catawba-Wateree system, is located northwest of Charlotte in Mecklenburg, Iredell, Catawba and Lincoln counties, North Carolina. Lake Norman has a surface area of about 32,475 acres and 569.5 shoreline miles at full pond elevation of 760 feet msl. Table 4.5-1 summarizes the shoreline classification for Lake Norman, based on the SMP maps.

There are 10 developed and 3 undeveloped Duke Power owned public recreation access locations (two are leased to county recreation agencies) on Lake Norman, one state park, (Lake Norman State Park, formerly Duke Power State Park), two county parks, Jetton Road and Blythe Landing County Parks, two county leased parks (Ramsey Creek and Stumpy Creek) and one city park, Davidson Lake Park. Figure 4.5-1 shows the public recreation access locations. In addition, there are 15 commercial non-residential, and 4 commercial residential marinas that provide additional public access on Lake Norman. The following sections describe the Duke-owned public access areas, summarize the facilities at the state and county parks, and provide estimates of the number and type of commercial recreational access facilities at Lake Norman.

Existing Duke-Owned Public Access Areas

The developed Duke-owned public access areas provide about 119 acres of land and about 14,669 feet of shoreline frontage of public access at Lake Norman. Combined, the developed access areas have 18 public boat ramps, 7 loading piers, 1 fishing piers and about 553 vehicle/trailer and 62 car parking spaces. Table 4.5-2 summarizes the facilities at the public access areas. The undeveloped access areas provide about 152 acres and 8,350 feet of shoreline frontage for future public recreational development.

Click Here to View Full Figure 4.5-1 Lake Norman Public Recreation Access Areas

In the 1994 SMP Duke Power proposed to improve the Stumpy Creek access area (replace the 1 ramp with 2 new boat ramps, install a loading pier, expand, light and pave the parking lot), Pinnacle access area (replace the 3 ramps with 5 new boat ramps, replace the pier with 2 new loading piers and light the parking lot), McCrary Creek access area (replace the 2 ramps with 4 new boat ramps and light and pave the parking lot), Hager Creek access area (replace the ramp with 3 new boat ramps, install a loading pier and pave and light the parking lot), Long Island access area (relocate the site and install two boat ramps, a loading pier and pave the site), Little Creek access area (replace the 2 ramps with 2 new boat ramps, install a loading pier and expand, light and pave the parking lot), Beattys Ford access area (replace the 3 ramps with 4 new boat ramps, install 2 loading piers and expand, light and pave the parking lot) and McGuire Fishing area (pave 5 handicapped parking spaces).

In addition, Duke Power said it would add 20 acres to the McCrary Creek site (16 acres added), add 10 acres to the Hager Creek site (8 acres added), relocate Long Island to 12 acres (relocated to 29 acres), add 5 acres to the Little Creek site (4 acres added), add 4 acres to the Beattys Ford site (7 acres added) and identify a new undeveloped 87 acre site (this is a new undeveloped 128 acre site). All of the recreation commitments from the 1994 SMP will be completed by the end of 2001. Duke Power also added two additional undeveloped sites with one at Buffalo Shoals (11 acres) and one at Slanting Bridge (13 acres).

*   Vehicle/Trailer parking area.
**  Undeveloped site.

There are one state park and four county parks located along the Lake Norman shoreline. Table 4.5-3 summarizes the site acreage, shoreline footage and recreational facilities provided at the Duke Power State Park. This facility is located in the northern portion of Lake Norman, and is owned and operated by North Carolina Department of Environmental Health and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation.

Four county parks, Jetton Park, Blythe Landing, Ramsey Creek Park, and Stumpy Creek Access Area are located along the southern and eastern shoreline of Lake Norman. Jetton Park and Blythe Landing are owned and operated by Mecklenburg County, while Ramsey Creek Park and Stumpy Creek are operated by Mecklenburg County and Iredell County, respectively, on lands under lease from Duke Power. Table 4.5-4 summarizes the key characteristics of these facilities.

Existing Commercial and Private Recreation Access

In addition to the Duke-owned public access areas and the state and county parks, the public can gain access to Lake Norman through commercial non-residential and commercial residential marinas. Private access to Lake Norman is through private marinas and private piers along the Lake Norman shoreline. Table 4.5-5 summarizes the number and type of public and private commercial non-residential and commercial residential marina facilities. Table 4.5-6 summarizes the estimated number of private piers.

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

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

Long Island Access Area

The Long Island access area is located in the upper portion of Lake Norman along the western shoreline near Long Island, North Carolina. Table 4.5-7 summarizes key site characteristics for the Long Island access area.

Pinnacle Access Area

The Pinnacle access area is located in the middle portion of Lake Norman's eastern shoreline, just off Route 150 in Iredell County, North Carolina. Table 4.5-8 summarizes key site characteristics for the Pinnacle access area.

McCrary Creek Access Area

The McCrary Creek access area is located off Route 150 in the middle portion of Lake Norman along the eastern shoreline just southeast of the Pinnacle access area. Table 4.5-9 summarizes key site characteristics for the McCrary Creek access area. Work will begin on the removal of the old ramps and the installation of 4 new ramps, 2 loading piers and an expansion of the parking lot at the end of 2000 and continue into 2001.

Marshall Fishing Area

The Marshall Fishing Area is located in the middle portion of Lake Norman along the western shoreline, on Highway 150, near Terrell, North Carolina. Table 4.5-10 summarizes key site characteristics for the Marshall Fishing Area.

Hager Creek Access Area

The Hager Creek access area is located in the middle portion of Lake Norman along the eastern shoreline near Mayhew, North Carolina. Table 4.5-11 summarizes key site characteristics for the Hager Creek access area.

Little Creek Access Area

The Little Creek access area is located in the middle portion of Lake Norman along the western shoreline near Denver, North Carolina. Table 4.5-12 summarizes key site characteristics for the Little Creek access area.