Have any Southeastern Lakes started to recover from the drought?

[Dave S]

Have any of the lakes in your area recovered at all from the drought?

The Lakes along the Catawba River basin heve not recovered much so far. Both Lake Norman and Lake Wylie are well below normal. Lake Norman bottomed out at 93.1 (6.9 feet below full pond) and has only recovered to 93.2 Lake Wylie bottomed out at 92.8 but has only recovered to 93.6. These levels are still well below normal.

The rain we have recieved so far has not amounted to enough to make an impact. We are on track for this being the driest year on record in parts of the Carolinas ever since record keeping started in the late 1800's.:smt009

 

[Nehalennia]

......................Lake Norman bottomed out at 93.1 (6.9 feet below full pond) and has only recovered to 93.2 Lake Wylie bottomed out at 92.8 but has only recovered to 93.6. These levels are still well below normal.

The rain we have recieved so far has not amounted to enough to make an impact. .....

Are you relaunching as soon as there's enough water?
Are there any projections?
Does the recent snow and Ice storms north of you fill the rivers that fill your lakes?

 

[Dave S]

Yes
No
No

 

[Taradise]

Yes
No
No

Very correct there!

It seems that whatever little rain we've had hasn't made a difference...it is going to take 'way-above' average rainfall to get these lakes to start to recover. I launched the other day on Allatoona...very depressing...and I can't imagine how dangerous it will be in the spring with so little water to share with other boaters/fishermen/jetskiers...I will probably plan on other alternatives. and THIS SUCKS!

 

[Nehalennia]

I'm telling you guys, especially retired Dave, Head west! There's water in them there lakes!
The cost to trailer here is cheaper than therapy.:smt100

 

[Dave S]

Todd.............I am not up to trailering way out to the West Coast although I know I would love boating out there. For me boating has to be "simple". It's 15 minutes to the Marina from my house right now. But if the drought puts a serious damper in next year's boating, then my boat will go up for sale. While others are willing to drive several hours to get to their boat, I am not.

That will be a sad day if it happens but you have to do what you have to do.

 

[chuck1]

We are holding at low winter levels. I think the lake went to 1913.62' from 1913.58'. I've still got about 3.5' feet below MS Judy in her slip. Just hope it holds. We've been holding at the 1913.60'+- range for the last couple months.

 

[Dave S]

We are holding at low winter levels. I think the lake went to 1913.62' from 1913.58'. I've still got about 3.5' feet below MS Judy in her slip. Just hope it holds. We've been holding at the 1913.60'+- range for the last couple months.

How many feet down is your lake Chuck?

 

[Nehalennia]

Todd.............I am not up to trailering way out to the West Coast although I know I would love boating out there. ..... But if the drought puts a serious damper in next year's boating, then my boat will go up for sale. While others are willing to drive several hours to get to their boat, I am not.
That will be a sad day if it happens but you to do what you have to do.

Wow, I'm sorry to hear that you're even considering selling. That would be a sad day indeed, especially because of lack of water.
Here's to Santa bringing a more than average rainfall this winter and not to the level it floods anyone down there.

 

[chuck1]

How many feet down is your lake Chuck?

Full summer pool is around 1926'+- so we are down around 13'. Keep in mind we are in the mountains so a 13' drop can end up being a 100 plus feet of mud shoreline.:smt089 TVA changed the way they operate lake Chatuge about 4 years ago. The normal winter pull down should only be about 8-9 feet. We never reached full