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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 12,149 acres and 327.5 shoreline miles at full pond elevation of 569.4 feet MSL.
Table 3.7-1 summarizes the shoreline classification for Lake Wylie, based on the July 2001 SMP maps.
Table 3.7-2 summarizes the shoreline classification
for Lake Wylie, based on
Within the Lake Wylie Study Area, there are 61 previously recorded cultural resources including 10 architectural resources and 52 archaeological sites. The architectural resources include 5 single dwellings, an industrial building, an historic district, a mill, a cemetery, and a dam. The architectural resources range in date from the nineteenth to the twentieth centuries. The archeological sites span from the Early Archaic through the Historic time periods. Many of the archaeological sites are of an unknown cultural affiliation and only non-diagnostic lithic artifacts were recovered at the sites. Many of the Woodland period sites contain ceramic and/or lithic artifacts. In addition, there are several protohistoric and historic Catawba sites within the study area. The historic archaeological sites include 3 farmsteads and the ruins of a home. There are no archaeological sites listed in the National Register. The McAdenville Historic District has been determined eligible for listing in the National Register. This resource contains residential, commercial, and religious structures associated with mill development. 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 Wylie 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.
Lake Wylie Existing Recreational Areas There are 9 developed Duke Power-owned public recreational access locations, with 3 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 3 undeveloped county parks owned by Mecklenburg County. Figure 3.7-1 shows the public recreational access locations. In addition, there are 11 commercial non-residential and no commercial residential marinas that provide additional public access to 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. Existing Duke Power-Owned Public Access Areas The developed Duke Power-owned public access areas provide about 333 acres and 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 4.7-3 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), 98 acres to the Allison Creek access area (59 added), 25 acres to the Fort Mill site (40 acres added), and 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). 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.
County, City, and Other Public Recreational Facilities Table 3.7-4 summarizes the site acreage, shoreline footage and recreational facilities provided at the Mecklenburg County Parks. These facilities are located on Lake Wylie, and are owned and operated by Mecklenburg County. The 3 city parks, River Street Park, Wind Jammer Beach Park and Pitcarin Cove Park, are located on Lake Wylie. Table 3.7-5 summarizes the key characteristics of these facilities. 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.
Existing Commercial and Private Recreational Access In addition to the Duke Power-owned public access
areas and the county and city parks, the public can gain access
to Lake Wylie through both 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
3.7-6 summarizes the number and type of public and private commercial
non-residential and commercial residential marina facilities. Table
3.7-7 summarizes the estimated number of private piers.
Lake Wylie Recreational Use Assessment Visitation figures at the public access areas on Lake Wylie 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 Wylie at these sites was 839,531 visits. Figure 3.7-2 shows the distribution of the visitation for each month at Lake Wylie 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.
Table 3.7-8 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 Wylie Duke Power-owned access areas, Ebenezer, Buster Boyd, and South Point were estimated to have the greatest amount of use at 32 percent, 23 percent, and 22 percent, respectively, of the total estimated use at the Lake Wylie 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) 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 Wylie for the 1999 study period totaled 1,076,300 visits. Back to Top 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 3.7-9) by the following factors (Warren and Rea, 1989, as modified):
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Table 3.7-10 summarizes the assessment of the optimum overall boat capacity based on the usable water surface acreage and the boating activity mix identified from surveys. Table 3.7-11 provides the assessment of the percent capacity of the boat use for Lake Wylie on the peak day during the 1999 study period. Lake Wylie during the weekday was estimated at 19 percent capacity, during the weekend at 36 percent capacity, and during the peak holiday period at 64 percent capacity for overall boating use.
The overall boat carrying capacity assessment provides an assessment of the total surface area available for boating use. To assess the areas of the lakes with higher density of boating use, the general location of boating activity was recorded during the flyovers for each day of aerial coverage. Figure 3.7-3 shows the location of boats during the peak use day for Lake Wylie. Figure 3.7-4 shows the boating density on Lake Wylie for the peak use day and areas with the greatest clustering of boating activity. Figure 3.7-5 shows the boat density map based on the composite of the four highest boating use days. This figure illustrates the areas where 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. Based on the boat capacity study in Table 3.7-11, there are no crowding problems on Lake Wylie. The highest capacity reached was 61% on a holiday weekend. The Peak Use Day Boat Density map, Figure 3.7-4 (for only one day), does show several areas where the boat density is higher than the rest of the lake. When averaging the four highest boat count days, Figure 3.7-5, there is only one area where boat density is higher than the rest of the lake, but the acres available per boat for are adequate for most boating activities. For all of the remaining times during the year the boat density levels are low to moderate. Lake Wylie Estimated Future Recreational Demand Table 3.7-12 provides the population projections
for the counties within 50-60 miles of Lake Wylie. 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 3.7-13 provides the estimated
recreational use for the impact zone through the year 2050. Current
use estimates are based on spot counts and responses to surveys.
The recreational use projections were estimated by computing the
projected population increase for the impact zone and incorporating
indexed values for future recreational use for the various activities.
The index values for each activity were obtained from "Outdoor
Recreation in American Life: A National Assessment of Demand and
Supply Trends" (Cordell, 1999). The indices are based on models
that incorporate a number of variables, including age structure
of the population, income, race, sex, and population density, as
well as other explanatory variables. Full model parameters and estimates
are available from the author.
Table 3.7-14 shows the estimated absorption percentage for the four major recreation activities that require specific lands and facilities. Picnicking, swimming, camping, and boating are activities that require specific developed facilities. The other activities listed are dispersed activities that can take place at a variety of undeveloped areas. The estimated 1999 use levels are from Table 3.7-13. The estimated demand is based on the impact zone population (population of all counties within 50-60 miles of the lake). The impact zone population is multiplied by the participation rate for the activity, which was obtained from "Emerging Markets for Outdoor Recreation in the United States: Based on the National Survey on Recreation and the Environment" (Cordell et al., 1996). Participation rates are for the South and are similar to 1995 North Carolina and South Carolina SCORP data. Specific participation rates are as follows: swimming, 37.3%; picnicking, 44.8%; camping, 22.4%; and boating, 45.0%. The product of the impact zone population and participation rates are then multiplied by the estimated of number of days of participation for each activity, which were obtained from the 1995 North Carolina SCORP. The 1999 estimated number of participants for each activity was then divided by the 1999 estimated demand to obtain the estimated absorption percentage. Absorption percentage is defined as the percent of total demand for the impact zone that is met by the individual lake. Table 3.7-15 provides the estimate of the recreational facilities land acreage needed to meet the future recreational demand through the year 2050. The weighted population is the estimated impact zone population multiplied by the participation rate for each activity. The facility standards and estimated acreage needs for the facility class are based on State SCORPS and FERC Guidelines for Outdoor Recreational Facilities. The facility need is the total facility need for the impact zone based on the weighted population and the facility standards. The total facility need is then multiplied by the absorption percentage to determine the facility need for Lake Wylie. The acreage needs are then based on the Lake Wylie facility need multiplied by per unit acreage needs that are based on State SCORPS and FERC Guidelines for Outdoor Recreation Facilities. For Lake Wylie, it is estimated that 146 acres are required to accommodate future recreational facilities demand through the year 2050. This includes 8 acres of beaches, 12 acres of picnic areas, 11 acres of campsites, and 115 acres of boat ramps. The estimated acreage needs for the reservoir are total usable acreage needs. Usable land acreage at existing developed public recreational facilities can be counted toward meeting these needs. Duke Power sites, county and state parks, and other private and public agencies will meet these needs. There are a number of county parks that are located on lands leased from Duke Power. These areas are not included in the discussion, as Duke Power owned access areas. Duke Power is expected to meet a portion of the future recreational land needs. The entire estimated need will be met by a combination of opportunities from all sources. For Lake Wylie, the most frequently
identified recreational facility needs mentioned were for more restrooms
and boat ramps. Through the AAII, additional restrooms will be provided
at some access areas upon the signing of a lease with the county
agency. Duke power does not plan to provide additional boat ramps
at this time because the existing ramps are not used to capacity,
except on some weekends.
*Boating activities
Based on comments received from the Recreation Use and Needs Survey conducted for Duke Power in 1999, the respondents indicated a need for camping, picnicking, boat ramps, marinas, pump out stations, gas pumps and restroom facilities on Lake Wylie. Through the AAII and existing agency leases, additional camping, picnicking, and restroom facilities will be constructed in the next 5 years to meet the identified needs. Additional mooring sites, gas pumps and other facilities may also be installed as Duke Power begins accepting access area lease requests by non-agency groups for the access areas not leased to the agencies. The non-agency groups had to wait until after June 1, 2000 (the deadline for agencies to submit an application, plan and schedule) before Duke Power would consider accepting their applications. Based on the projected population projections, facility standards and estimated acreage needs of the facility class, approximately 146 acres will be needed through 2050 to meet future recreational facility demand. Currently, 333 acres of mainland and 73 acres of islands have been reserved for recreational use. The land is good topographically and will be able to support the facilities identified by the survey respondents in the Recreation Use and Needs Study. There are also 4 existing or proposed county parks located on the lake. Survey respondents indicated they would like to see fewer jet skis and regulation of the size of boats on the lake. Additional safety items concerning safe use of jet skis and boats will be including in the Duke Power's lake map publication. |
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