Catawba-Wateree Recreation Enhancements

Fishing piers, beaches, trails, restrooms planned for rivers and lakes

Duke Energy is upgrading and adding new recreation access areas at many of its Catawba-Wateree hydro reservoirs. New amenities include boat launches, picnic facilities, fishing piers, swim beaches, camping areas, trails, restrooms and parking. These enhancements are a result of commitments made by Duke Energy and 69 other stakeholders in the Comprehensive Relicensing Agreement signed in 2006 and required by the company’s hydroelectric operating license issued in 2015 by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Between 2018 and 2038, Duke Energy will upgrade 32 existing recreation sites and construct facilities at 26 new sites under the Catawba Wateree Recreation Management Plan, on reservoirs extending from Lake James in North Carolina to Lake Wateree in South Carolina.

Additional information on planned recreation enhancements and the federally approved Catawba-Wateree Recreation Management Plan can be found at duke-energy.com/community/lakes/recreation-information.

Recreation enhancements coming to Catawba reservoirs (2018 – 2027)

Lake James

• Bridgewater Portage – canoe/kayak portage trail upgrade (complete)
• Black Bear Access Area – camping sites, picnic facilities, fishing pier, trails, restrooms (complete)
• Muddy Creek Access Area – canoe/kayak launch, parking area (complete)
• Fonta Flora Access Area – motorized boat launch, courtesy dock, parking, restrooms (in progress)
• Linville Access Area – site will be converted to canoe/kayak access, picnic and restroom facilities will be added (in progress)
• Pocket Park Access Area – picnic facilities, bank fishing, overlooks, parking (in progress)
• Bridgewater Access Area– picnic facilities, boat ramp, additional parking, restrooms (in progress)

Lake Rhodhiss

• Rhodhiss Access Area – restrooms (complete)
• Corpening Bridge Access Area – boat launch, parking, wildlife viewing facility (complete)
• Conley Creek Access Area – hiking trail (complete)

Lake Hickory

• Wittenburg Access Area – restrooms, picnic facilities, paved parking, swim beach (complete)
• Gunpowder Access Area – wildlife viewing/fishing facility (complete)
• Dusty Ridge Access Area – trail and restrooms (in progress)

Lookout Shoals Lake

• Lookout Shoals Access Area – restrooms (complete)

Lake Norman

• Beatty’s Ford Access Area – fishing pier, swim beach, additional parking (opening 2025)
• Hagers Creek Access Area – picnic facilities, fishing pier and bank fishing stations, trails, restrooms, more parking (complete)
• Stumpy Creek Access Area – picnic facilities, fishing pier, trail, restrooms, additional parking (in progress)
• Little Creek Access Area – picnic facilities, fishing pier, restrooms, additional parking (in progress)

Mountain Island Lake

• Highway 73 Access Area – boat launch, parking area (complete)
• Lucia Access Area ― canoe/kayak launch, wildlife viewing facility, parking area (complete)
• Riverbend Access Area – swim area, bank fishing, fishing pier, restrooms, parking (in progress)

Lake Wylie

• Dutchman’s Creek Access Area – canoe/kayak launch, parking area (complete)
• Buster Boyd Access Area – restrooms (complete)
• Rock Hill Park – swim area, picnic facilities, bank fishing stations and trail, restrooms, parking (complete)
• South Point Access Area – swim area, picnic facilities, fishing piers, bank fishing area, trails, restroom, parking (complete)
• Allison Creek Access Area – picnic facilities, restrooms, trails, parking, RV and primitive camping, playground, canoe/kayak launch (complete)
• Fort Mill Access Area – picnic facilities, restrooms (in progress)

Fishing Creek Reservoir

• Springs Park Access Area – fishing pier, bank fishing trail, additional parking (complete)
• Fishing Creek Access Area – fishing pier, restrooms, picnic facilities, additional parking, swim area (in progress)
• Fishing Creek Tailrace Fishing Area – fishing platform, bank fishing, wildlife viewing, parking (in progress)

Great Falls Reservoir (includes recreation flow releases into bypassed reaches

• Nitrolee Access Area – canoe/kayak launch, restroom, parking, interpretive display of historic structure (complete)
• Portages and Access Trails – Great Falls diversion dam portage, Great Falls headworks dam portage, Great Falls to Cedar Creek portage/trail (on Mountain Island) (complete)
• Lower Great Falls Cano/Kayak Launch and Pedestrian Bridge to Dearborn Island – canoe/kayak launch, parking, pedestrian bridge to new State Park (in progress)

Cedar Creek Reservoir

• Mudcat Inn Access Area – canoe/kayak launch, gravel parking, wildlife viewing (in progress)

Lake Wateree

• Wateree Creek Access Area – fishing pier, picnic facilities, restrooms, additional parking (complete)
• Taylors Creek Fishing Area – bank fishing pier, gravel parking (in progress)
• Molly Creek Access Area – boat ramps, swim beach, bank and pier fishing, picnic facilities, trails, restrooms, parking (complete)
• Colonel’s Creek Access Area – boat courtesy dock, swim area, picnic facilities, restrooms, additional parking (complete)

We will provide updates to reflect additional amenities planned for completion between 2028 and 2038.