Lake Rhodhiss is a relatively small lake within
the Catawba-Wateree system, located northeast of Morganton in Burke
and Caldwell counties, North Carolina. Lake Rhodhiss has a surface
area of about 3,021 acres and 103.9 shoreline miles at full pond
elevation of 995.1 feet MSL.
| 3.2.1 |
Lake Rhodhiss Shoreline
Classification |
Table 3.2-1 summarizes the shoreline classification
for Lake Rhodhiss, based on the July 2001 SMP maps.
| Table 3.2-1. |
Shoreline Classification for Lake Rhodhiss
|
|
Shoreline Classification
|
Shoreline Miles
|
Percent of Total
|
|
Commercial/Non-Residential
|
0.4
|
0.0%
|
|
Commercial/Residential
|
0.3
|
0.0%
|
|
Residential
|
0.4
|
0.0%
|
|
Business
Industrial
|
0.4
|
0.0%
|
|
Public Recreation
|
0.4
|
0.0%
|
|
Public Infrastructure
|
1.2
|
1.2%
|
|
Project Operations
|
1.0
|
1.0%
|
|
Future Commercial/Non-Residential
|
28.1
|
27.0%
|
|
Future Commercial/Residential
|
1.8
|
1.7%
|
|
Future Residential
|
4.9
|
4.7%
|
|
Future Public
Recreation
|
2.3
|
2.2%
|
|
Impact Minimization
Zones
|
1.6
|
2.0%
|
|
Impact Minimization
Zones (Dev)
|
0.0
|
0.0%
|
|
Environmental
Area
|
24.5
|
23.6%
|
|
Natural Area
|
36.7
|
35.3%
|
|
Total
|
103.9
|
100.0%
|
Back to Top
| 3.2.2 |
Lake Rhodhiss Shallow
Water Fish Habitat Survey |
Table 3.2-2 summarizes the shoreline classification
for Lake Rhodhiss, based on the
results of the SWFHS.
| Table 3.2-2.
|
Shallow Water Habitat Shoreline Classifications (Miles)
|
|
Lake
|
Developed
|
Sand
|
Cobble
|
Woody Debris
|
Vegetated
|
Natural
|
Undeveloped No Critical Habitat
|
Total
|
|
Rhodhiss
|
1.5
|
2.2
|
1.3
|
9.2
|
21.3
|
2.5
|
59.5
|
98
|
| 3.2.3 |
Lake Rhodhiss Cultural
Resources Assessment |
Within the Lake Rhodhiss Study Area, there are 66
previously recorded cultural resources including 6 architectural
resources and 60 archaeological sites. Architectural resources include
2 single dwellings, 2 dams, and 2 bridges. The architectural resources
range in date from the early nineteenth to the middle twentieth
century. The archeological sites range from the Early Archaic through
the Historic cultural periods.
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Twenty sites are associated with the archaic periods
and 14 are from the woodland period. Eleven of the prehistoric sites
are habitation sites, but site function could not be determined
for 23 of the archaeological sites. Fourteen of the sites are associated
with the historic period. One historic archaeological site is the
possible location for eighteenth-century Fort McDowell. There are
also three historic cemetery sites within the study area. Fourteen
of the sites have been affected by landfills, four are underwater,
six are affected by erosion, and one has been destroyed, although
another site is now a parking lot and another is on the site of
a future road. The associated time period has not been determined
for 12 of the archaeological sites.
None of the archaeological sites are listed in the
National Register.
The Bellevue house is the only architectural resource
listed in the National Register.
The information on both the archaeological and architectural
sites from the state files is being used in preparation of the predictive
model to assign the shoreline on Lake Rhodhiss either a High, Medium,
Low, or No probability for the occurrence of cultural resources.
Prior to the completion of the model non-exempt activities such
as excavation projects, commercial marina development, and certain
conveyance projects will be provided to the appropriate SHPO for
review before construction or excavation activity begins within
the project boundary. To ensure the potential impact to cultural
resources is properly evaluated after completion of the predictive
model, Lake Management will review the predictive model for all
non-exempt activities. Applicants for all non-exempt lake use permitting
activities in medium and high probability areas will be required
to consult with the appropriate SHPO regarding their proposal.
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| 3.2.4 |
Lake Rhodhiss Recreational
Use and Carrying Capacity Assessmentv |
Lake Rhodhiss Existing Recreational Areas
There are 5 developed Duke Power-owned public recreational
access locations on Lake Rhodhiss and the Marsh Project area, leased
by Duck's Unlimited and the State of North Carolina. Figure 3.2-1
shows the public recreational access locations. In addition, there
is 1 commercial non-residential and 1 commercial residential marina
that provide additional access on Lake Rhodhiss. The following sections
describe the Duke Power-owned public access areas and provide estimates
of the number and types of commercial recreational access facilities
at Lake Rhodhiss.
|
Click Here
to View Full
Figure 3.2-1
Lake Rhodhiss Public Recreational Access Areas
|
 |
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Existing Duke Power-owned Public Access Areas
The developed Duke Power-owned public access areas
provide about 247 acres and about 15,756 feet of shoreline frontage
of public access at Lake Rhodhiss. Combined, the developed access
areas have 11 public boat ramps, 6 loading piers, and about 350
car/trailer and 20 vehicle parking spaces. Table 3.2-3 summarizes
the facilities at the public access areas. The NCWRC, under an agreement
with Duke Power, maintains all of the access areas on Lake Rhodhiss.
In the 1994 SMP, Duke Power proposed improving the
Castle Bridge access area (replace 1 ramp with 6 new ramps, replace
2 piers with 3 new piers, and add 150 paved parking spaces), relocate
the Tator Hole site (add 4 new ramps, 2 loading piers, and 100 paved
parking spaces). In addition, Duke Power said it would add 5 acres
of land at Castle Bridge (45 acres added), add 20 acres to the Conley
Creek site (64 added) and provide 100 acres at the relocated Tator
Hole site (now called the Rhodhiss site where 127 acres were provided).
All of the commitments were met except for the provision of 4 boat
ramps at the Rhodhiss site where, after consultation with the NCWRC
and FERC, only 2 ramps and 1 pier were provided initially.
The NCWRC has entered into a creative partnership
with Duke Power for the maintenance and operation of the non-leased
access areas. Under this agreement Duke Power pays the NCWRC to
maintain the access areas and the NCWRC makes at least the same
capital dollar amount available to Duke Power, and agency lessees
for the non boat launching portion of the access areas, for improvements
that will help the boating public. This agreement is a continuation
of a long established partnership with the NCWRC with the added
benefit of designated cost sharing capital dollars for access area
improvements.
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| Table 3.2-3.
|
Lake Rhodhiss Duke Power-Owned Public Access Areas
|
|
Access Area Name
|
Acreage
|
Shoreline Frontage (ft)
|
Boat Ramps
|
Loading Piers
|
Fishing Piers
|
Car
Parking
(Spaces)
|
V/T*
Parking
(Spaces)
|
|
Johns
River
|
1.8
|
172
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
30
|
|
Huffman
Bridge
|
2.3
|
610
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
20
|
0
|
|
Castle
Bridge
|
47.7
|
1,290
|
6
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
150
|
|
Conley
Creek
|
67.9
|
4,842
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
70
|
|
Rhodhiss
|
126.9
|
8,842
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
100
|
|
Total
|
246.6
|
15,756
|
11
|
6
|
0
|
20
|
350
|
* Vehicle/Trailer parking areas
Existing Commercial and Private Recreational
Access
In addition to the Duke Power-owned public access
areas, the public and lake neighbors can gain access to Lake Rhodhiss
through a commercial non-residential marina. Private access to Lake
Rhodhiss is through a private marina and private piers along the
Lake Rhodhiss shoreline. Table 3.2-4 summarizes the number and types
of public and private commercial non-residential and commercial
residential marina facilities. Table 3.2-5 summarizes the estimated
number of private piers.
Back to Top
| Table 3.2-4. |
Summary of Lake Rhodhiss Commercial Recreational
Access Facilities
|
|
Type of Facility
|
Commercial
Non-Residential
|
Commercial Residential
|
|
Public Marinas
|
1
|
0
|
|
Private Marinas
|
0
|
1
|
|
Wet Slips
|
62
|
2
|
|
Dry Slips
|
0
|
0
|
| Table 3.2-5.
|
Summary of Lake Rhodhiss Private Recreational Access
Facilities
|
|
Type of Facility
|
No. Private Facilities
|
|
Piers
|
5
|
Lake Rhodhiss Recreational Use Assessment
Visitation figures at the public access areas on
Lake Rhodhiss were derived based on estimates of the traffic entering
the Duke Power-owned public access areas. For the 1999 study period,
there was an estimated total of 228,010 visits for Lake Rhodhiss
at these sites. Figure 3.2-2 shows the distribution of the visitation
for each month at Lake Rhodhiss for the Duke Power-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.
| Figure 3.2-2. |
Lake Rhodhiss Estimate of Recreational Visitation at
the Duke Power-Owned Access Areas
|

Table 3.2-6 shows the estimated recreational visitation
based on the traffic counter data for the sampled sites during the
1999 study period. Of the Duke Power-owned Lake Rhodhiss access
areas, those experiencing the greatest usage were Castle Bridge,
Rhodhiss, and Conley Creek with estimates of 51 percent, 22 percent,
and 15 percent, respectively, of the total estimated use.
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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)
compared to Survey C respondents (respondents at the public access
areas) was 1.27 to 1. The estimated overall recreational visitation
for Lake Rhodhiss for the 1999 study period totaled 288,655 visits.
Lake Rhodhiss Boat Carrying Capacity Assessment
The overall boat carrying capacity is assessed based
on the peak boating use estimates obtained during the flyovers in
the 1999 study period. The available boating acreage was adjusted
from the base boats per acreage estimate (see Table 3.2-7) by the
following factors (Warren and Rea, 1989, as modified):
Back to Top
| Factor |
Adjustment
|
| 1. |
Location of the lake in relation to
population served |
0
|
| 2. |
Multiple use of water area |
-
|
|
3.
|
Shoreline configuration |
-
|
| 4. |
Amount of open water |
-
|
| 5. |
Amount of facility and shoreline development |
-
|
| 6. |
Crowding rating |
0
|
| |
Total
|
-3
|
Click
Here to View
Full
| Table 3.2-6. |
1999 Lake Rhodhiss Estimated Recreational Visitation
at Duke Power-Owned Access Areas
|
| Table 3.2-7. |
Boat Type Acreage Adjustment
(Source: Modified from Warren and Rea, 1989)vv
|
|
Boat Activity Type
|
Low
|
-4
|
-3
|
-2
|
-1
|
Base
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
High
|
|
Fishing
|
10.0
|
9.0
|
8.0
|
6.0
|
5.0
|
4.3
|
4.0
|
3.3
|
3.0
|
2.3
|
2.0
|
|
Canoe/kayak
|
2.5
|
2.3
|
2.0
|
1.8
|
1.5
|
1.3
|
1.1
|
1.0
|
0.8
|
0.7
|
0.5
|
|
Motor
boating
|
18.0
|
17.0
|
15.0
|
13.0
|
11.0
|
9.0
|
8.0
|
7.0
|
6.0
|
5.0
|
3.0
|
|
Sailing
|
10.0
|
9.0
|
8.0
|
6.0
|
5.0
|
4.3
|
4.0
|
3.3
|
3.0
|
2.3
|
2.0
|
|
Jet
skiing
|
10.0
|
9.0
|
8.0
|
6.0
|
5.0
|
4.3
|
4.0
|
3.3
|
3.0
|
2.3
|
2.0
|
|
Water
skiing
|
20.0
|
18.0
|
17.0
|
15.0
|
14.0
|
12.0
|
11.0
|
10.0
|
9.0
|
8.0
|
7.0
|
Table 3.2-8 summarizes the assessment of the optimum
overall boat capacity based on the usable boating water surface
acreage and the boating activity mix identified from the surveys.
Table 3.2-9 provides the assessment of the percent capacity of the
boat use for Lake Rhodhiss on the peak day during the 1999 study
period. During the weekday, Lake Rhodhiss was estimated at 11 percent
capacity; during the weekend, at 9 percent capacity; and during
the peak holiday period, at 19 percent capacity for overall boating
use.
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| Table 3.2-8.
|
Lake Rhodhiss Boat Carrying Capacity Assessmentvvvv
|
|
Boat Activity
|
Usable Acreage
|
Use Factor
|
Opt. No. Boats
|
% Usage
|
Boat
Activity Mix
|
Persons/ Boat
|
Total Users
|
|
Fishing
|
3,060
|
8.0
|
383
|
60%
|
230
|
3.14
|
722
|
|
Canoe/Kayak
|
3,060
|
2.0
|
1,530
|
12%
|
184
|
3.26
|
600
|
|
Motor
Boating
|
1,743
|
15.0
|
116
|
13%
|
15
|
3.90
|
59
|
|
Sailing
|
1,743
|
8.0
|
218
|
0%
|
-
|
3.36
|
-
|
|
Jet
Skiing
|
1,743
|
8.0
|
218
|
13%
|
28
|
3.85
|
108
|
|
Water
Skiing
|
1,743
|
17.0
|
103
|
2%
|
2
|
4.39
|
9
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
100%
|
459
|
|
1,498
|
| Table 3.2-9.
|
Lake Rhodhiss Estimated 1999 Study Period Boat
Capacityvv
|
|
Peak Use
|
Weekday
|
% Capacity
|
Weekend
|
% Capacity
|
Holiday
|
% Capacity
|
|
No.
Boats
|
49
|
11%
|
41
|
9%
|
89
|
19%
|
The overall boat carrying capacity
assessment provides an assessment of the total surface area of boating
use. To assess the areas of the lakes with higher boating density,
the general location of boating activity was recorded during the
flyovers for each day of aerial coverage. Figure 3.2-3 shows the
location of boats during the peak use day for Lake Rhodhiss. Figure
3.2-4 shows the boating density on Lake Rhodhiss for the peak use
day, and denotes areas with the greatest clustering of boating activity.
Figure 3.2-5 shows the boat density map based on the composite of
the five highest boating use days. This figure illustrates the areas
with boating use most often occurred during the peak use days during
the study period and provides an assessment of areas with high density
boating during this same period.
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|
Click
Here
to View Full
Figure 3.2-3
Lake Rhodhiss Peak Use Day Boat Counts
|
 |
|
Click Here
to View Full
Figure 3.2-4
Lake Rhodhiss Peak Use Day Boat Density Map
|
 |
|
Click Here
to View Full
Figure 3.2-5
Lake Rhodhiss Composite Peak Use Boat Density Map
|
 |
Based on the boat capacity study in Table 3.2-9,
there are no crowding problems on Lake Rhodhiss. The highest capacity
reached was 19% on holiday weekends. The Peak Use Day Boat Density
map, Figure 3.2-4 (for only one day), does show one area where the
boat density is higher than the rest of the lake, but the acres
available per boat for are adequate for all boating activities.
When averaging the five highest boat count days, Figure 3.2-5, no
crowding problems are identified. For all of the remaining times
during the year the boat density levels are very low.
Back to Top
Lake Rhodhiss Estimated Future Recreational Demand
Table 3.2-10 provides the population projections
for the counties within 50-60 miles of Lake Rhodhiss. Population
projections were conducted for the impact zone using a combination
of 1970 - 1990 population data and 2000 and 2010 population projections
from U.S. Census Bureau data; these figures were used to make projections
for 2030, 2040, and 2050
| Table 3.2-10. |
Lake Rhodhiss Estimated Population Projections
for the
Impact Zonevv
|
|
County
|
1999
|
2000
|
2010
|
2020
|
2030
|
|