Lake Wylie, the third largest reservoir in the Catawba-Wateree system, is located southwest of Charlotte in Gaston and Mecklenburg Counties, North Carolina and York County, South Carolina. Lake Wylie has a surface area of about 13,433 acres and 314.7 shoreline miles at full pond elevation of 569.4 feet msl. Table 4.7-1 summarizes the shoreline classification, based on the SMP maps.

There are nine developed Duke Power owned public recreation access locations, with three leased to agencies, on Lake Wylie. There are several developed county and city parks including: McDowell Nature Preserve, owned and operated by Mecklenburg County; River Street Park, owned and operated by the City of Mount Holly; Wind Jammer Beach and Pitcarin Parks, owned by the City of Tega Cay; and the Stowe Botanical Garden. There are three undeveloped county parks owned by Mecklenburg County. Figure 4.7-shows the public recreation access locations. In addition, there are 11 commercial non-residential and no commercial residential marinas that provide additional public access on Lake Wylie.

The Copperhead Access Area is operated as part of McDowell County Nature Preserve that is owned by Mecklenburg County. Ebenezer Access Area is operated by York County as a county park. The City of Rock Hill has the Indian Ground Access Area leased for fishing use by special populations. A recent major addition to public recreation on Lake Wylie was the creation of Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden on the South Fork arm of the lake. This facility consists of 450 acres of land that has the gardens being developed over a 20-year period.

Click Here to View Full Figure 4.7-1 Lake Wylie Public Recreation Access Areas

Existing Duke-Owned Public Access Areas

The developed Duke-owned public access areas provide about 333 acres and about 27,803 feet of shoreline frontage of public access at Lake Wylie. Combined, the developed access areas have 24 public boat ramps, 12 loading piers, 4 fishing piers and about 568 parking spaces for vehicles/trailers and 305 parking spaces for cars. Table 4.7-2 summarizes the facilities at the public access areas.

In the 1994 SMP, Duke Power proposed to improve the Allen Fishing area (provide handicapped accessibility), Buster Boyd access area (replace the two 2-lane ramps with 6 new boat ramps and replace the pier with 3 new piers) and Nivens Creek access area (expand and pave the parking lot). In addition, Duke Power said it would add 36 acres to the South Point site (54 acres added), add 98 acres to the Allison Creek access area (59 added), add 25 acres to the Fort Mill site (40 acres added) and add 8 acres to the Nivens Creek site (13 acres added). All of the recreation commitments from the 1994 SMP have been met except for two ramps and one pier at Buster Boyd (because there was insufficient parking) and the expansion and paving of Nivens Creek (because of building code problems).

County and City Public Recreation Facilities

Table 4.7-3 summarizes the site acreage, shoreline footage and recreational facilities provided at the County Recreational Facilities. There are a total of 3 County facilities and 3 City Parks.

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is a family oriented, educational facility comprised of prime rolling meadows, woodlands, and lakefront property. It began in 1989 when retired Belmont textile executive, Daniel Jonathan Stowe, set aside 450 acres for the development of a world class botanical garden.

In October 1999, the Garden proudly opened a new 110-acre facility that includes four themed gardens, a 13,500 square foot Visitor Pavilion, fountains, entrance ponds, expanded Gift and Garden Shop, and half-mile Woodland Trail. The new gardens are a part of a Master Plan designed by landscape architect Geoffrey Rausch that will evolve over several decades. The completed Botanical Garden will include a conservatory complex, rose pavilion, Asian and English gardens, natural wetland, children's garden, restaurant, outdoor amphitheater, and lakefront access.

Approximately three miles of the Garden lies along the eastern shoreline of the Catawba Creek arm of Lake Wylie. The planned watercraft entrance will enable visitors to rent a slip where they can park their boat for a certain number of hours per day. This will be the water terminus of the garden's tram route. Visitors will be able to ride the length of site, or they may disembark from the tram at exit points in between.

When fully completed the Garden will represent an investment of $150-$200 million, employ over 300 people and entertain one million visitors a year, adding more than $36 million to the regional economy.

The three city parks, River Street Park, Wind Jammer Beach Park and Pitcarin Cove Park, are located on Lake Wylie. Table 4.7-4 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, county and city parks, the public can gain access to Lake Wylie through commercial non-residential and commercial residential marinas. Private access to Lake Wylie is through private marinas and private piers along the Lake Wylie shoreline. Table 4.7-5 summarizes the number and type of public and private commercial non-residential and commercial residential marina facilities. Table 4.7-6 summarizes the estimated number of private piers.

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

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

Allen Fishing Area

The Allen Fishing Area is located in the upper portion of Lake Wylie near the Allen Steam Station in Gaston County, North Carolina. Table 4.7-7 summarizes key site characteristics for the Allen Fishing Area.

South Point Access Area

The South Point access area is located in the upper portion of Lake Wylie in Gaston County, North Carolina, just north of the South Carolina state line. Table 4.7-8 summarizes key site characteristics for the South Point access area

Copperhead Access Area

The Copperhead access area is located in the middle portion of Lake Wylie on the eastern shoreline, near McDowell Park in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Table 4.7-9 summarizes key site characteristics for the Copperhead access area. This site is leased to Mecklenburg County.

Buster Boyd Access Area

The Buster Boyd access area is located in the middle portion of Lake Wylie in York County, South Carolina near McDowell Park in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Table 4.7-10 summarizes key site characteristics for the Buster Boyd access area.

Allison Creek Access Area

The Allison Creek access area is located in the lower portion of Lake Wylie in York County, South Carolina. Table 4.7-11 summarizes key site characteristics for the Allison Creek access area.

Indian Ground Access Area

The Indian Ground access area is located in the lower portion of Lake Wylie, in York County, South Carolina. Table 4.7-12 summarizes key site characteristics for the Indian Ground access area. The site is leased to the City of Rock Hill and is only open when they take groups to the site.

Nivens Creek Access Area

The Nivens Creek access area is located in the lower portion of Lake Wylie along the eastern shoreline near Tega Cay, South Carolina. Table 4.7-13 summarizes key site characteristics for the Nivens Creek access area.