3.5	Lake Norman

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 31,984 acres and 591.6 shoreline miles at full pond elevation of 760 feet MSL.

3.5.1

Lake Norman Shoreline Classification

Table 3.5-1 summarizes the shoreline classification for Lake Norman, based on the July 2001 SMP maps.

Table 3.5-1.

Shoreline Classification for Lake Norman

Shoreline Classification	Shoreline Miles	Percent of Total
Commercial /Non-Residential	6.5	1.1%
Commercial /Residential	23.9	4.0%
Residential	310.9	52.6%
Business Industrial	2.7	0.5%
Public Recreation	2.6	0.4%
Public Infrastructure	19.8	3.3%
Project Operations	3.3	0.6%
Future Commercial/Non-Residential	15.7	2.7%
Future Commercial/Residential	30.4	5.1%
Future Residential	50.7	8.6%
Future Public Recreation	28.2	4.8%
Impact Minimization Zones	12.8	2.2%
Impact Minimization Zones (Dev)	0.5	0.0%
Environmental Area	75.7	12.8%
Natural Area	7.8	1.3%
Total	591.6	100.0%

 

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3.5.2

Lake Norman Shallow Water Fish Habitat Survey

Table3.5-2  Lake Norman Shallow Water Habitat Shoreline Classifications (Miles)

Table 3.4-1.

Shoreline Classification for Lookout Shoals Lake

Lake	Developed	Sand	Cobble	Woody Debris	Vegetated	Natural	Undeveloped No Critical Habitat	Total
Norman	340.3	11.5	2.2	0.3	69.1	2	143.8	569

3.5.3

Lake Norman Cultural Resources Assessment

Within the Lake Norman Study Area, there are 455 previously recorded cultural resources including 34 architectural resources and 421 archaeological sites. The architectural resources include 23 single dwellings, a church with a cemetery, 2 other cemeteries, 2 agricultural complexes, a mill, a bridge, a commercial building, a mill village, a school, and a commercial district. The architectural resources date from the eighteenth through the twentieth centuries, although most of the resources date to the nineteenth century. The archeological sites range in date from the Early Archaic through the Historic cultural periods.

Approximately one-third of the archaeological sites are not associated with a specific cultural period. The majority of the sites have components that date to the Woodland period, and many contain ceramic and lithic artifacts. Only lithic artifacts were recovered at the majority of the other sites. There are 41 sites for which we do not have enough data to determine their specific functions. The integrity of the sites is varied. More than half of the sites are underwater.

None of the archaeological sites are listed in the National Register.

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Twenty of the architectural resources are listed in the National Register. The single dwellings listed are the Perkins House, the Cornelius House, the Falls-Hobbs House, and the Neill-Turner-Lester House. The other listed resource is the Catawba Historic District.

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 Norman 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.

3.5.4

Lake Norman Recreational Use and Carrying Capacity Assessment

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Lake Norman Existing Recreational Areas

There are 10 developed and 3 undeveloped Duke Power owned public recreational 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 owned 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 3.5-1 shows the public recreational access locations. In addition, there are 15 commercial non-residential and 4 commercial residential marinas that provide additional public access to Lake Norman. The following sections describe the Duke Power-owned public access areas, summarize the facilities at the state and county parks, and provide estimates of the number and types of commercial recreational access facilities at Lake Norman.

Click Here to View Full Figure 3.5-1 Lake Norman Public Recreational Access Areas

Existing Duke Power-Owned Public Access Areas

The developed Duke Power-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 pier and about 553 vehicle/trailer and 62 car parking spaces. Table 3.5-3 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.

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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, and 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, 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).

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 3.5-3.

Lake Norman 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)
Long Island	28.8	2,015	2	1	0	0	50
Pinnacle	9.4	1,035	5	2	0	0	155
McCrary Creek	21.2	1,867	2	0	0	0	50
Marshall Fish Area	-	1,100	0	0	0	0	38
Hager Creek	28.3	3,308	4	2	0	0	120
Little Creek	7.9	1,673	1	0	0	20	20
Beatties Ford	23.7	1,871	4	2	0	0	120
McGuire Fish Area	-	1,800	0	0	1	42	0
Buffalo Shoals **	10.8	1,456	NA	NA	NA	0	NA
Island Point**	128.3	6,245	NA	NA	NA	0	NA
Slanting Bridge**	12.6	649	NA	NA	NA	0	NA
Total	271.0	23,019	18	7	1	62	553

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

State and County Public Recreational Facilities

There is 1 state park and 4 county parks located along the Lake Norman shoreline. Table 3.5-4 summarizes the site acreage, shoreline footage, and recreational facilities provided at the Lake Norman 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.

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Table 3.5-4.

Summary of Lake Norman State Park Public Recreational Facilities

Site Description/Facility	Number
Site Acreage	1,459
Shoreline Footage	39,850
Concrete Boat Ramps	2
Loading Pier	1
Paved Parking Spaces for Trailers	50
Paved Parking Spaces for Cars	370
Swimming Beach and Bathhouse	1 each
Concession Building	1
Primitive Group Campsites	1
Campsites without Hookups	33
Restroom/Shower	1
Picnic Tables	67
Ranger Residences	2
Maintenance Facility	1
Miles of Trail	7.5

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 3.5-5 summarizes the key characteristics of these facilities.

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Existing Commercial and Private Recreational Access

In addition to the Duke Power-owned public access areas and the state and county parks, the public can gain access to Lake Norman through both 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 3.5-6 summarizes the number and types of public and private commercial non-residential and commercial residential marina facilities. Table 3.5-7 summarizes the estimated number of private piers.

Table 3.5-5.

Summary of County Public Recreational Facilities

Jetton Park	Blythe Landing	Ramsey Creek Park	Stumpy Creek
105 acres	11 picnic tables	46 acres	4 soccer fields
12,877 shoreline footage	6 boat ramps	3,828 shoreline frontage	120 parking spaces
1 beach area	3 picnic shelters	4 concrete boat ramps	To be completed in 2001
1 concession area	.5 miles of trail	1 floating loading pier with 8 slips	2 concrete boat ramps
3 double picnic decks with grills	157 boat parking spaces	115 paved parking spaces for trailers	1 floating loading pier
9 picnic decks with grills	101 car parking spaces	49 paved parking spaces for cars	51 paved parking spaces
1 playground	1 dockside café	4 paved parking spaces for buses
2 restrooms	1 playground	12 picnic tables
8 tennis courts	8 boat slips	3 picnic shelters with 13 tables
1.5 miles of biking trails	5 volleyball courts	15 grills
1 mile of hiking trails	2 restrooms	2 restrooms
1 office complex	1 loading pier	1 concessions/office complex
1 maintenance facility		1 playground area
		2 horseshoe pits
		1 volleyball court
		2 beach areas
		1 fishing pier
		5 miles of trails

 

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Table 3.5-6.

Summary of Lake Norman Commercial Recreational Access Facilities

Type of Facility	Commercial Non-Residential	Commercial Residential
No. Public Marinas	15	4
No. Private Marinas	7	65
No. Wet Slips	1,903	3,398
No. Dry Slips	1,570	1,035

Table 3.5-7.

Summary of Lake Norman Private Recreational Access Facilities

Type of Facility	No. Private Facilities
Piers	8,100

Lake Norman Recreational Use Assessment

Visitation figures at the public access areas on Lake Norman were derived based on estimates of the traffic entering the Duke Power-owned public access areas. Total estimated visitation during the 1999 study period for Lake Norman at these sites was 387,400 visits. Figure 3.5-3 shows the distribution of the visitation for each month at the Duke Power-owned Lake Norman 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 3.5-8 provides a summary of the estimated recreational visitation based on the traffic counter data for the sampled sites during the 1999 study period. Of the Lake Norman Duke Power-owned access areas, Ramsey Creek, Pinnacle, and Beatties Ford have the greatest amount of use at 19 percent, 17 percent, and 16 percent, respectively, of the total estimated use at the Lake Norman Duke Power-owned access areas.

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 a ratio of 1.3 to 1. The estimated overall recreational visitation for Lake Norman for the 1999 study period totaled 492,146 visits.

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Table 3.5-8.

1999 Lake Norman Estimated Recreational Visitation at Duke Power-Owned Access Areas

Figure 3.5-2.

Lake Norman Estimate of Recreational Visitation at the Duke Power-Owned Access Areas

.

Lake Norman 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 3.5-9) by the following factors (Warren and Rea, 1989, as modified):

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	-
	Total	-1

 

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Table 3.5-9.

Boat Type Acreage Adjustment (Source:  Modified from Warren and Rea, 1989)

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