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Lake Norman

February 15, 2024

Lake Norman is the largest man-made body of fresh water in North Carolina. It was created between 1959 and 1964[1] as part of the construction of the Cowans Ford Dam by Duke Energy. Located in Iredell County, 40 miles north of Charlotte, Lake Norman State Park boasts the region's popular mountain biking trail system.

Lake Norman
Typical coastline
Lake Norman
Lake Norman
LocationCatawba / Iredell / Lincoln / Mecklenburg counties, North Carolina, United States
Coordinates35°29′N 80°56′W / 35.483°N 80.933°W / 35.483; -80.933
Lake typeReservoir
Primary inflowsCatawba River
Primary outflowsCatawba River via Cowans Ford Dam
Catchment area1,790 square miles (4,600 km2)
Basin countriesUnited States
Max. length33.6 miles (54.1 km)
Max. width9 miles (14 km)
Surface area32,510 acres 50.80 sq mi (132 km2)
Average depth33.5 feet (10.2 m)
Max. depth112 feet (34 m)
Water volume1,093,600 acre-feet (1,348,900,000 m³)
Residence time207 days
Shore length1520 miles (840 km)
Surface elevation760 feet (230 m)
IslandsMany (Near 60)
SettlementsLake Norman of Catawba, Davidson, Cornelius, Westport
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Geography edit

Lake Norman is fed by the Catawba River, and drains into Mountain Island Lake to the south. It was named after former Duke Power president Norman Atwater Cocke. Lake Norman is sometimes referred to as the "inland sea" of North Carolina; it offers 520 miles (840 km) of shoreline and a surface area of more than 50 square miles (130 km2). Full pond at Lake Norman is 760 feet (230 m) above mean sea level. Interstate 77 and North Carolina Highway 150 cross Lake Norman at different points.[citation needed]

Hydroelectrical power edit

Lake Norman provides electricity to the Piedmont region of the Carolinas. It powers the generators at the hydroelectric station at Cowans Ford Dam, is used by the coal-fired Marshall Steam Station, and by McGuire Nuclear Station to cool the reactors while generating the steam that drives their turbines. The lake supplies water to Lincoln County, Catawba County, Iredell County, Charlotte, and other towns in Mecklenburg County, particularly Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville.[citation needed]

Natural history edit

Climate edit

Lake Norman, as with most of the rest of North Carolina, has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa in the Koppen Climate Classification), featuring warm-to-hot summers and cold-to-mild winters. There is no "dry season", and rainfall is highly variable year-round. Lake Norman gets a mean annual precipitation of about 43.1 inches (1,090 mm) per year over an average of 75 precipitation days, with approximately 41.1 inches (1,040 mm) being rain and the other 2 inches (51 mm) being snow. Wind speeds are, on average, highest in February, while they are at their lowest in August.

Lake Norman borders four counties in North Carolina (Catawba, Iredell, Mecklenburg, and Lincoln) and is present in both the Southern Piedmont and Central Piedmont climate divisions. July is normally the warmest month in these two climate divisions, with an average daily maximum temperature of 90 °F (32 °C) and an average daily minimum of 70 °F (21 °C). January is normally the coolest month, with an average daily maximum of 51 °F (11 °C) and an average daily minimum of 29 °F (−2 °C). The all-time maximum of 107 °F (42 °C) was recorded in 1954, while the all-time minimum of −5 °F (−21 °C) was recorded in 1985.[2]

Climate data for Lake Norman, North Carolina (elevation 760 feet (230 m))
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 79
(26) 		81
(27) 		88
(31) 		92
(33) 		99
(37) 		107
(42) 		106
(41) 		104
(40) 		101
(38) 		95
(35) 		85
(29) 		80
(27) 		107
(42)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 51
(11) 		56
(13) 		64
(18) 		72
(22) 		80
(27) 		87
(31) 		90
(32) 		88
(31) 		82
(28) 		73
(23) 		63
(17) 		54
(12) 		90
(32)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 29
(−2) 		32
(0) 		39
(4) 		48
(9) 		57
(14) 		66
(19) 		70
(21) 		68
(20) 		62
(17) 		49
(9) 		40
(4) 		32
(0) 		29
(−2)
Record low °F (°C) −5
(−21) 		−4
(−20) 		−1
(−18) 		25
(−4) 		31
(−1) 		40
(4) 		54
(12) 		49
(9) 		34
(1) 		25
(−4) 		11
(−12) 		3
(−16) 		−5
(−21)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.85
(98) 		3.66
(93) 		3.71
(94) 		2.85
(72) 		2.99
(76) 		3.99
(101) 		3.48
(88) 		4.45
(113) 		3.66
(93) 		3.86
(98) 		3.06
(78) 		3.54
(90) 		43.1
(1,090)
Source: The Weather Channel[3]

Geology edit

 
Lake Norman in Ramsey Creek Park in Cornelius

Lake Norman is a man-made lake that is 33.6 miles (54.1 km) long, 9 miles (14 km) wide, and has 520 miles (840 km) of shoreline. Its average depth is 33.5 feet (10.2 m), but at its outlet it reaches a depth of 110 feet (34 m). The lake is mainly underlain by interfingered igneous and metamorphic bedrock.

The bottom of the lake consists of various clay and plastic soils. These mechanically engineered soils are maintained and constructed with artificial enforcing, which adds a stabilization factor, and solidifies the lake so it will not break down and wear away. Clay soil contains a high percentage of particles that becomes sticky when wet, and therefore holds together better.[4]

Lake Norman lies atop two geologic belts, the Charlotte belt and the Inner Piedmont belt.[5] The Charlotte belt is made up of igneous rock that is 300 to 500 million years old. Igneous rocks are used in construction, hence why the lake was built on top of them. The Inner Piedmont belt is the most metamorphosed belt, and contains deformed metamorphosed volcanic and sedimentary rocks approximately 500 to 700 million years old. The lake is built on the Catawba River, and is underlain by inceptisol soils, which are found in river floodplains. The soil is made of brown forest soil deposits and includes a wide variety of dissimilar soil characteristics. In North Carolina, inceptisols cover almost the whole state, except areas around the east coast.

Erosion edit

The main cause of erosion issues on Lake Norman is the density of residential neighborhoods located so close to the shorelines of the lake.[6] Since Lake Norman is well known for its recreational activities, there is a continuously high demand for real estate on Lake Norman. Stormwater runoff plays the largest role in erosion issues due to the amount of impervious surfaces from dense development.

When Davidson College was in the process of purchasing property along Lake Norman and finalizing plans for its lake campus, many assessments were conducted to analyze the quality of the land and quality of dams feeding into the lake. Initially a report completed in 1990 by Dr. Joe A. Edmisten, an ecological consultant, concluded that there was evidence of erosion in Wetland #1 of the report due to the level of urbanization in the area.[7] In addition, in the preliminary examination of the dam on Concord Road in 1990, researchers found that it was necessary to implement "two erosion control basins at the primary drainage points" on the Davidson property to avoid future erosion issues.[8] All erosion efforts on and around Davidson's property were noted in two reports, one in March 1992 and the other in June 1992, that they were going to be maintained by the Mecklenburg County Guidelines and Specifications for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control.[9]

Currently, regulations enforced by the state of North Carolina are intended to prevent erosion issues and preserve the lake and the land surrounding it. A regulation established on June 30, 2001, states that there must be a 50-foot buffer zone between the lake and new housing where vegetation is required to be preserved.[10] Older neighborhoods that were already in place at the time the regulation was created were grandfathered into the previous 30-foot buffer zone regulation.[11] Officials from the North Carolina Division of Water Quality state that "vegetation stabilizes river banks, prevents soil from eroding into water and filters storm water runoff."[11]

Water quality edit

Although Duke Energy claims to the contrary, coal ash contamination from the power company continues to be a major concern to residents around the lake. In spite of Duke Energy's efforts to obscure their own findings by issuing a 20,000-page report in 2018, data confirms that "levels of radium in groundwater far exceed EPA drinking water standards", and "could clearly harm those who use this water for drinking.".[12]

Though there are few recent documented reports containing data about the current water quality of Lake Norman, data from previous years can help estimate the current specifics of the water quality. "Duke Energy [also] routinely monitors the water quality of Lake Norman as a requirement of the NPDES permit from the McGuire Nuclear Station," and there have been "no obvious short-term or long-term impacts of the nuclear station" where data samples were taken.[13] Periodically reports from Duke Energy will be released updating the public on status of the quality of both water from the lake and groundwater sources.[14]

There are two public water quality reports from different sources that were conducted in 2007. They help paint a picture of what the water quality of the lake was like in the past and what it is currently like. The first sample series included a variety of sample collections from different areas of the lake. In a sample series where five different lakes along the Catawba Chain were analyzed and compared, researchers noted that "Lake Norman [had] some of the best water quality of the five lakes sampled within the chain."[6] In the report, nine samples of water were taken at eight stations within the lake, and none of the samples violated any of the local water quality standards.[6] Specifically, the report found each of the following when analyzing the samples:

  • Low levels of organic nitrogen
  • Elevated levels of inorganic nitrogen (most likely due to drought conditions of the lake at the time of the report)
  • Total phosphorus levels below the state Division of Water Quality laboratory detections
  • All other parameters were normal

Overall, this report concluded that the water quality of Lake Norman was normal.[citation needed]

A second report conducted in 2007 found similar results as the previous report. In this one, Lake Norman was monitored by Division of Water Quality staff once a month from May to September. The mean Secchi depths of this report ranged from 1.8 to 2.6 meters (5.9 to 8.5 ft), which indicates good water quality.[13] Specifics on the water quality itself from the report include the following:

The similarities between the two reports indicate consistent and reliable data analysis on Lake Norman. These reports, along with routine updates from Duke Energy, will help researchers to continue to document and monitor the water quality of Lake Norman in the future.[citation needed]

Duke Energy has a permit to dump wastewater into an upstream section of the river as long as the water the company extracts from the lake is of the same quality as the water being dumped into the lake.[15] Duke Energy has been making some improvements when it comes to the amount of wastewater being distributed into the lake. However, 500,000 gallons of sewage was dumped into the lake, according to a report by the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation in May 2004.[16] Efforts were taken to ensure that the overall water quality of the lake does not decline as a direct cause of wastewater entering the lake.[citation needed]

Ecology edit

North Carolina's Piedmont is a region of high biodiversity, and Lake Norman is important for its diversity of birds, fish, mammals and plants. Lake Norman is the largest body of water in the Catawba River watershed and the largest lake in North Carolina. Lake Norman's shoreline has a length of 520 miles (840 km) and an area of more than 50 square miles (130 km2). Lake Norman's surrounding ecology includes mesic mixed hardwood forest, dry oak-hickory forest, dry-mesic oak-hickory forest, Piedmont bottomland forest and Piedmont alluvial forest.[17]

Fauna edit

Fish populations are an important ecological actor in Lake Norman. Recreational sportfishing has supplanted subsistence and commercial fishing as the main mode of fishing on the lake. Many of the fish were artificially introduced by fishing clubs and organizations. The fish population is quite diverse, including but not limited to:

The striped bass is Lake Norman's most popular fish.[citation needed] Stripers tend to dwell in the lake's shallow shoreline during the spring and in deeper waters during the summer.[18] There has been a change in bass to form hybrid species as a result of artificial stocking practices.[19] The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) introduced the striped bass in 1969 because they were once the dominant open water fish in Lake Norman. However, the striped bass population declined quickly, prompting the NCWRC to discontinue the stocking program in 2012.[20]

The basin is also home to a large variety of animal residents, many of them unique and rare to the Piedmont area and which thrive off of the resources provided by Lake Norman. The list includes:

  • Crayfish
  • Dragonfly
  • Heelsplitter — The federally endangered Carolina heelsplitter, a freshwater mussel, is sensitive to changes in water quality. Some Carolina heelsplitter populations have been reduced to a few dozen mussels. Sediment pollution is a culprit in the mussel's decline. There are only three populations in North Carolina and 10 total populations in the world of this sharp-edged mollusk, which grows to only about 4 inches (100 mm) long.

There are many mammal species that have inhabited the Piedmont region for a long period of time before Lake Norman was created. The mammals that inhabit the Lake Norman area include:

Populations of reptiles and amphibians have found resource-filled and safe dwelling locations around the Lake Norman ecosystem. Many of the reptiles and amphibians inhabit the perimeter of Lake Norman. These include:

Most of the snakes found around the perimeter of Lake Norman are harmless and seldom seen. However, one must be aware of the presence of the venomous Eastern copperhead, which can severely harm a human with a single bite[21]

Birds and waterfowl are also important ecological actors that contribute to the overall health and balance of the Lake Norman ecosystem. Of a total of 115 bird species, 54 species are neotropical migrants and 27 were transients to the North Carolina Piedmont. The Catawba River is a suitable migratory corridor for a variety of these birds. There are also 19 species of shorebirds that have been recorded as dwelling around the Catawba River.[17]

Below is a list of birds that can be found in the greater Lake Norman area (including waterfowl):[22]

 
A wild osprey spreads its wings.

Flora edit

Many native plants found around Lake Norman are also common in other parts of North Carolina, such as trees and flowering plants.

 
White snakeroot

Many different trees are found in and around Lake Norman. Species of the genus Baccharis L. are typically found in warm and subtropical regions of the United States. One such species of this genus, Silverling, reaches tree size and is native to North Carolina. It is most common in marshes and areas with moist soil. Another species of plant typically found in areas with moist soil and riverbanks is known as hornbeam or ironwood. Belonging to the genus Carpinus L. and native to North Carolina, it is a type of beech tree known for its heavy and hard wood, resulting in the name ironwood. Another tree native to North Carolina and found in and around Lake Norman is the yellow poplar or tulip poplar, which is commonly found in forests with moist soil and floodplains. Also found in and around Lake Norman is sassafras, often located in temperate climates and native to North Carolina.

Many flowering plants are also found around the lake, including Indian mallow. Also found in the vicinity of the lake is baneberry, a part of the Ranunculacease (buttercup) family. Another flowering plant found around the lake is white snakeroot (Ageratina altissima). It is a perennial herb and is poisonous, containing tremetol, a type of toxic alcohol. In addition, stork's-bill or herons-bill is found around Lake Norman and serves as food for some small mammals.

Environmental management of the lake edit

Lake Norman and the surrounding shoreline serve as a habitat for a diverse array of plants and wildlife, as well as a place for a myriad of human activities. Maintaining this habitat to simultaneously preserve endangered species, keep invasive species at bay, and maintain health and safety standards for the people that live, work, and recreate on the lake is an arduous undertaking. The management of the lake is complicated by the presence of multiple stakeholders in the lake's management, often with conflicting interests and priorities.[16] Duke Energy owns most of the land underneath Lake Norman, as well as the land above the lake up to an elevation of 232 metres (761 ft), with the exception of land platted to other ownership. Certain lakebed portions are owned by families that settled on the banks of the Catawba River prior to the flooding of Norman. Those families allowed Duke Energy to flood their properties, yet the lakebed still remains property of these families.[23] Duke Energy is in charge of management of the lake itself as well as any property, such as lake walls, docks, and beaches, that enter into this zone.[16] The land that falls under the jurisdiction of Duke Energy is subject to the ordinances of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, while the land surrounding the lake, both publicly and privately owned, is subject to the ordinances of the state of North Carolina and the county in which the land falls (Catawba County, Iredell County, Lincoln County, or Mecklenburg County).[16] Additionally, the Lake Norman Marine Commission and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, as well as many non-governmental organizations and environmental organizations, play roles in the regulation and management of the lake.[24] Environmental duties are divided between these different stakeholders, but some fall under split jurisdiction. Water quality, for example, is monitored and managed by both Duke Energy and the state of North Carolina.[16] Other partnerships are voluntary: Duke Energy, for example, partners with many wildlife organizations to minimize the impact of human activities on the environment.[25]

 
Hydrilla verticillata

The management of the invasive plant hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) has been a particularly challenging undertaking for these stakeholders.[16] Hydrilla, native to India, was introduced to the United States in the 1950s, and was first seen in Lake Norman in 2001. Hydrilla was likely transported to Lake Norman on the beds and motor blades of boats transported from infected lakes.[16] Hydrilla crowds out native species, impedes irrigation, and clogs boat motors.[26] When hydrilla first takes hold, there is an initial upsurge in fish populations, as bait fish, which form a vital link in the food chain, flourish in hydrilla, but as the infestation grows too thick, it chokes out other plants and fish, who get caught in the weeds, and cannot swim.[16] Hydrilla also has a harmful impact on bird populations. It contains a harmful bacterium that acts as a neurotoxin for some birds. In Lake Norman, these bacteria cause sickness in coot, who eat the hydrilla, as well as in eagles, who eat coot.[27] The Lake Norman Marine Commission seeks to keep the hydrilla population in Lake Norman at bay by introducing grass carp that feed on the aquatic plants.[27]

Other environmental management projects on Lake Norman focus their efforts on helping native species. Notably, the Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists (LNWC), with donations from Duke Energy's Habitat Enhancement Program, began a program in 2014 to promote nesting sites and preserve habitat for great blue herons and osprey.[28] Since then, LNWC and Duke Energy have put up five nesting platforms throughout the lake each year. Additionally, Duke Energy has protected Heron Island and several other islands throughout the lake as a place for great blue herons to raise their young.[29]

Cultural history edit

Catawba history edit

Long before the Catawba River was dammed in 1963 to create Lake Norman, the river and surrounding area were home to the Catawba people of North Carolina. Now with a reservation in Rock Hill, South Carolina, this Indian nation lived along the Catawba River for 6,000 years.[30]

The Catawba River has long been a part of the historical narrative of settlers, as its presence provided sites with water and key cartographic information for traveling. Figure 1 illustrates a map drawn in 1775 by Henry Mouzon of North and South Carolina, in which the Catawba River and other natural features are detailed in full.[31] For comparison, Figure 2 depicts a map of North Carolina from 1958, only a few years before the creation of Lake Norman. When placed together, one can visualize the importance of this location over the last few centuries. The 18th century map's cartographer took painstaking effort in accurately portraying the topographic facets of the landscape, while maintaining an overarching emphasis on the counties, towns, and indigenous frontiers throughout. The 20th century map shows similar details, with slight changes in the Catawba River's course—much of which can be accounted for by natural processes, such as erosion or cutoff.

 
Figure 1: "An Accurate Map of North and South Carolina"; 1775; Henry Mouzon. Archived by Davidson College.
 
Figure 2: "State of North Carolina"; 1958; U.S. Geological Survey. Archived by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Because of the river's desirability and the overarching push toward American colonialism, settlers in the 18th and 19th centuries fought over these lands with indigenous peoples. The removal of Native Americans from the Southeast is well-documented, especially with the plight of the Cherokee Nation through their journey on the Trail of Tears.[32] The Catawba people faced a similar struggle, as they attempted to preserve their own culture while maintaining alliances with the Cherokee and other tribes. Although the process of removal had begun earlier, emphasized in the 1700s with the rise of slavery and cotton agriculture, the 1840 Nations Ford Treaty ceded Catawba land to South Carolina and provided in return "three hundred acres of which is to be good arable lands, fit for cultivation, to be purchased in Haywood County, North Carolina, or in some other mountainous or thinly populated region."[33] In a letter sent by North Carolina Governor John Motley Morehead in 1841, he "refused to accept the Catawba" and "sarcastically proposed that the North Carolina Cherokee should instead settle themselves in South Carolina."[32] Such sentiments proved common during this period, as in 1847 the governor of South Carolina, David Johnson, remarked, "They [the Catawba] are, in effect, dissolved."[34]

Accordingly, although the Catawba were effectively displaced from today's Lake Norman region, their namesake and artifacts remain. Considering the long-time historical presence of the Catawba, it follows that some pieces of their material culture would exist underneath the now flooded region of Lake Norman. Pottery, for example, is considered a "cultural legacy" to the Catawba, and was traditionally "dug from clay holes along the banks of the Catawba River."[35] Other artifacts may include tobacco pipes, gun parts, glass beads, and nose bangles. Before the influence of firearms through trading, arrows were also used; these arrowheads today are now considered prized collector's pieces.[36] Today, archeologists are still finding new sites where the Catawba and other Native Americans lived. Further up the river in Morganton, past the dams built by Duke Energy, a 500-year old village was discovered in 2012. Research on the Catawba's presence in the Carolinas continues to be a long-term effort for archaeologists and historians alike, as seen in the "Catawba Project" run by UNC Chapel Hill.[37] Similar places and archaeological remains likely exist beneath the waves of the lake, sitting alongside the farmlands, cemeteries, and other physical remnants predating the 1960s.

Before the lake edit

The construction of the Cowan's Ford Dam and the subsequent creation of Lake Norman in the late 1950s and early 1960s represented just one part of a larger hydroelectric project on the Catawba River, dating back to the early 1900s. Furthermore, it fits into the larger context of river manipulation and the "energy-water nexus" that developed in the U.S. South in the early to mid-1900s.[38] Over the course of the twentieth century, public and private entities across the U.S. South sought water management solutions for two primary purposes: environmental control—limiting flooding and drought—and electric power production.[38]

In 1900, Walker Gill Wylie and Robert H. Wylie formed the Catawba Power Company, which was purchased by the Duke brothers upon the completion of the construction of its first power station in 1904.[39] Throughout the early 1900s, the Duke Power Company sought to build a market for hydroelectric power and develop an interconnected hydroelectric system, rather than "random development of isolated sites."[39] While Duke Energy's permit to construct the Cowan's Ford Dam was not obtained until 1958, the company's "plans for the project date back to 1904."[40] As part of its project to expand demand for electricity, the Duke Power Company invested in textile mills throughout the region. By 1928, the Catawba River system was nicknamed "the world's most electrified river", with ten dams and dozens of powerhouses dispersed up and down the river.

On August 25, 1957, The Charlotte Observer reported Duke Power Company's proposal to build the Cowan's Ford Lake, "the latest (and last) of Duke Power Co.'s dammed-up creatures of the Catawba."[41] In the article announcing the company's plan, the Charlotte Observer framed the infrastructure project largely in terms of hydroelectric power and recreation opportunities, declaring that the dam would create "a whopping charge of electrical energy for Duke and a new sportsman's playground for water-wacky Carolinians."[41]

In a 1959 meeting at the Statesville Kiwanis Club, Duke Energy representative Bill Ward explained that the primary motivation behind the construction of the Cowan's Ford Dam was to provide "power for peak load periods."[40] Unlike the steam-generated power plants Duke had already constructed in the area, the Cowan's Ford Dam would include "water-driven turbines" that could easily be started and stopped to control energy generation.[40] The creation of the dam was therefore an opportunity for Duke Energy to increase its market share in the textile industry, which was transitioning production from "steam-generated power to electricity."[42]

However, this was not the only ambition behind the project. In a 1959 publication of the Statesville Record & Landmark, home-sites that would soon become lakefront properties were being advertised by Duke Energy to potential customers. Furthermore, the company discussed its goal of bringing new industry to the area surrounding the soon-to-be lake. While these plans provided future economic stimulus for the surrounding area, they also marked a distinct shift from the industry and communities that were currently residing in the path of the impending flood.[40]

The local newspaper record from the late 1950s and early 1960s showed little concern for the land and communities that would be flooded and displaced due to the creation of Lake Norman. According to the Charlotte Observer, the land that would be flooded was 70% timberland and "most property to be submerged...[was] already owned by Duke."[41] In anticipation of the flooding after the completion of the dam, Duke Power employed forester Carl Blades to purchase land from "reluctant farmers".[43] He ultimately purchased 30,000 acres (120 km2) of "family farmland" that would end up submerged.[44] Because Lake Norman was anticipated to be relatively shallow, Duke had to "scrub the land clean of trees, homes, and other debris" to "remove underwater hazards." Those individuals who would be displaced were often hesitant, but "there weren't any huge protests." Some residents even "turned the burden" of the new lake "into a boon." A number of farmers benefited by holding on to what would soon become expensive lakefront property, while other residents refused to sell to Duke Energy and as a result leased their water rights to the company.[42]

The project to construct Cowan's Ford Dam broke ground in 1959. Upon the dam's completion in 1962, the lake began to fill with water. After the construction of dam, the Catawba River slowly covered the 30,000 acres of land where farms, mills, plantations, and entire communities once resided.[45] Historic sites, such as the battlefield for the Revolutionary War Battle of Cowan's Ford, were also flooded during the creation of Lake Norman.

The mill towns of East Monbo and Long Island closed in 1959 and 1961, respectively, in anticipation of the formation of the lake. Situated on the banks of the Catawba River, the mills were extremely at risk of inundation. The proposal for Lake Norman and Cowan's Ford Dam had brought uncertainty to the "community of oldtimers" living in these mill towns. In a segment titled "Where will the lake come?", Douglas Eisele of the Statesville Record and Landmark remarked on the mill communities' public memory of earlier flooding and resilience, writing: "will man's ingenuity finally take down what two historic floods could not destroy?"[40] While the foundations of the mill towns' building remain beneath the lake, some families moved their houses outside the range of the lake flooding.[46]

Furthermore, several cemeteries, such as the Caldwell Family Cemetery and Flemming Family Cemetery, are now covered by the lake.[47] Duke Energy tracked down family members of those buried in the surrounding cemeteries to determine how the graves should be handled before the flood. Many individuals asked for the gravestones to be transported to a new location and Duke ensured the markers were "cleaned and repaired" once they were moved.[46]

Duke Power partnered with the state of North Carolina to establish Lake Norman State Park. It has also built two bank fishing areas and eight public boating access areas along the shoreline. One site is leased to Mecklenburg County and one to Iredell County. Game fish in Lake Norman include catfish, crappie, bluegill and yellow perch, as well as striped, largemouth, spotted, white bass hybrids, and long-nosed gar. Lake Norman has also become home to multiple species of wildlife, including eastern box turtle, soft shell turtle, snapping turtle, black (eastern) rat snake and the Northern water snake.[citation needed]

Naming edit

Lake Norman was named after Norman Atwater Cocke, former president of Duke Energy. Cocke was born on November 20, 1884, James Cocke and Sarah Atwater in Prince George County, Virginia. A graduate of New York Law School, he began his career with Duke Energy in 1906 as an attorney, becoming a Vice President and director of the company in 1927.[48] Cocke was president of Duke Energy from 1947 to 1959.[49] Under his leadership, Duke Energy representatives spent a great deal of time planning the new lake, convincing locals to leave the future lakebed, and working with state officials to get support for the project.[50] Cocke would also communicate with Davidson College in order to establish a satellite location for the college along the shores of the future lake.[51] In 1960, Duke Energy stated that the lake would be named in Norman's honor, as he had retired as president of Duke Energy during the previous year.[48]

Long Sam edit

The objective for a couple of local reporters and a photographer was simply to find a spot along the lake to observe and try to get the scoop on the new Duke Power Lake. Photographer Fletcher Davis came along with but amongst the densely forested spot they saw something unexpected. They found a girl described as "a statuesque young girl carved from the classical patterns of a Greek Goddess." In the Tom McKnight article for the Charlotte Observer, August 4, 1957, the men who find her describe the odd circumstances in which they stumbled upon her. Sam Fletcher described her as "A second Ava Gardener if one ever lived." The description of her in the Observer called her "primitive and savage" in her beauty. A second column in the Observer, by Gary Davis, describes her as "a fairy tale, only real" and dubs her The Girl in Black. The comparisons for her didn't stop there however, as she was called a living Long Sam. Long Sam being a girl featured in a newspaper comic in the mid-50s that featured a country bumpkin placed in a non-bumpkin world.[52] The comic created by Al Capp, featured a tall, voluptuous naïve mountain girl who was raised hidden from The comparison is due to her beauty and also the perception they had of her as a country bumpkin. The girl herself is named Jimmy but due to one of her brothers later being named Jim, she is now called Dorothy, Dorothy Brown. What she wants more than anything however is high school education, since she said, "You can't be anybody without a high school education."[53] Here the contrast between her and the caricature can be seen, she is not some naïve girl but rather someone striving for being someone greater. Her goal was all about being somebody, particularly education. The column caught national attention with the Associated Press releasing article with titles like "the Backwoods Beauty", "Nature Girl" and "Long Sam."[54] Dorothy Brown, the girl in the photograph, became a national sensation. She was invited to New York City by Ed Sullivan and made the trip with the photographer and writer of the original article. Life magazine called her a "living doll" and "Carolina prototype for Long Sam, heroine of the Al Capp cartoon." Ultimately Dorothy took the $1000 from her appearance on Ed Sullivan and returned.[54] She took the opportunity for education and graduated with a degree in education from the Woman's College of the University of North Carolina. McKnight and Davis said, "If she hadn't been by the well that day, if Duke Power hadn't planned the lake; who's to say what would have happened." The photograph captured a sweet, young girl who just wanted an education. After her fade from the limelight, she ultimately achieved her dreams. This type of story is all based around the development of the lake. The lake, currently almost all owned by Duke in the 1950s was needed by the company for a project.[55] The project announced in the 1950s was for building a dam where Gen. William Lee Davidson was killed. The whole reason this photo occurred was due to the expansion on the lake by Duke in this period. The land around the lake was vastly underdeveloped and many different groups of people inhabited the Lake region. Long Sam exists in an in between of time periods where the lake was starting to prosper but only around the locals.

Development edit

Creation edit

Duke Power's plans to construct Lake Norman began in 1904. The Old Catawba Station Dam marked the beginning of the sixty-year process of Lake Norman's creation. By 1928, Duke Power, then known as Southern Power, had created over ten dams along the river, with the intended goal of using these dams to become the electrical supplier of the whole region. Throughout this time, Duke Power began purchasing land along the Catawba River to minimize the number of people required to move once the Dam flooded the land. The Cowan's Ford site was chosen to build the dam that would complete the sixty-year project.[56] To create the dam and Lake Norman itself, Duke Power required a project license. A project license required the approval of town halls across the areas affected by the transformation of the river. To demonstrate the effect of the lake, Duke Power created a map detailing the areas facing consequences from Lake Norman. Stemming mainly from the lake's commercial aspects, Duke Power was granted the license in 1957 by the Federal Power Commission, despite some resistance due to the historical landmarks that would be submerged by the lake.[57] Along with the project license, Duke Power received permission to clear over 23,000 acres of vegetation in places affected by the flooding. While Duke's purchasing of a large portion of the land helped minimize the damage to communities, many faced relocation. Construction began in 1959 with an address from Governor Hodges and an honorary flipping of the first dynamite switch.[58] Construction of the dam finished in 1962, and along with-it Lake Norman, encompassing over 33,000 acres and 750 miles of shoreline, was created.[59]

Regulations edit

The creation of Lake Norman requires the implementation of new laws and regulations. Fishing and boating regulations on Lake Norman follow the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission's guidelines. Fishing can be done without a license, but live bait must be used. To protect wildlife, certain methods are banned, such as fish traps and trap lines.[60] Fishing and the composition of the Lake itself has undergone many changes throughout Lake Norman's history. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has introduced certain species of fish to the lake, such as the blue catfish and the striped bass. The Commission regularly introduces populations of the native fish species to ensure healthy populations.[61]

The creation of the lake also introduced the need for new boating regulations. Boats with engines operating at over 10 horsepower must be registered with the state. Multiple controversies relating to boating have occurred in relation to Lake Norman, resulting in some attempts to limit the use of yachts and other large boats on Lake Norman.[62] To govern these regulations, the Lake Norman Safety Commission formed in 1965, aimed at educating recreational users of the lake and enforcing regulations. The committee was created as a reaction to a fatal boating accident in 1965.[63]

Other regulations include the creation of the Lake Norman Commission, consisting of the Lincoln, Catawba, Iredell and Mecklenburg counties. The commission set rules into place to promote safety while on the water, including placing restrictions on the speed of boats while within 150 feet on the Marina and punishments for the defacement of signs.[64] Lake Norman has resulted in the creation of new wildlife regulations. Certain islands along the lake are now designated protected areas for the Blue Heron by the North Carolina Wild Commission.[65] Future nuclear plants along Lake Norman faced pushback from environmental groups due to wildlife concerns of the effects on the wildlife. After inspections and governmental approval, the plans for nuclear power were found to have no effect on the local wildlife.[66] Other points of concern have been the fish populations, pollution of the lake, and the beginning of the recycling program in the 1990s. Nuclear power has become less of a point of controversy over time, and non-profits such as Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists and Ducks Unlimited.[67]

Local housing edit

Since Lake Norman's creation, housing and real estate in the area have been subject to significant changes. In addition to the appeal of Lake Norman and the many activities and jobs associated with it, the area lies in close proximity to Charlotte – the largest metropolitan area in the Carolinas and the second-largest financial center in the United States after New York City. Given the appeal of the area and the government sponsored push for suburban living in the 1950s, demand for housing rose steeply from the late 1950s to the present.[68] Duke Energy, which owned about 300,000 acres of surplus land, responded to this demand in 1963, as the lake was finally full and open for business.[69] Duke owned half of the Lake Norman shoreline, and the company made about 2,500 cottage sites available for lease at $120 a year.[70] Other private developers began establishing subdivisions like Moonlight Bay, Isle of Pines, Kiser's Island, Bonanza, Westport, and Island Forest, many of which are still residential communities today.[70] Many of the homes built on Lake Norman served as secondary homes for people who lived in the surrounding area, but the appeal of the area extended beyond Lake Norman's immediate vicinity leading to an increase in the number of permanent residents in towns like Davidson, Mooresville, and Cornelius.[71] Many of these towns around Lake Norman developed comprehensive development plans in order to cope with the rapid growth.[72] New Zoning ordinances in Cornelius, Davidson, and Huntersville called for development that would promote pedestrian traffic and accessibility among the three towns.[73]

The construction of I-77 in 1975 complicated the development situation in the area, as it gave people immediate access to all that Lake Norman offered and the surrounding towns.[74] In 1977, a subsidiary of Duke Energy called Crescent Resources began to sell some of Duke's land holdings, which allowed further development on the previously leased land.[69] Based on what had occurred in the area since the creation of Lake Norman, the assumption going forth was that both the economic and population growth would continue creating demand at the lake.[74] In 1980, Mecklenburg county voted against a bond program that would preserve the remaining farmland in the area, demonstrating the transition from an area previously dominated by agricultural land to one that was far more suburban.[75] Today, the four counties that make up the Lake Norman area are some of the fastest growing counties in North Carolina. From 1990 to 2016, the population of the Lake Norman area has grown by 831%.[73] Median home values in towns surrounding Lake Norman are all higher than the national average of $250,800 (Mooresville: $250,800, Davidson: $339,400, Cornelius: $280,000, Huntersville $304,034), and appreciation rates for homes are some of the highest in North Carolina.[76]

I-77 edit

The construction of I-77 during the formation of Lake Norman created a quick and efficient way to travel through the lake's surrounding cities and towns, which include Charlotte, Huntersville, Davidson, and Mooresville. Before the creation of the lake, a period often referred to as the "pre-lake days", local residents "often took a back road to Charlotte".[77] Back roads such as Kiser Island Road were able to transport drivers "through cotton fields and great pine forests" as they made their way to their desired location.[77] Other frequently traveled highways before the creation of Lake Norman include N.C. 115 and U.S. 21, which were both used to travel from the area to Charlotte.[78]

26.23 miles of state roads were flooded by the creation of Lake Norman. Duke Power, now Duke Energy, paid North Carolina "$3.3 million to relocate 13.3 miles of roadway and to raise 6.4 miles of roadway".[77] The creation of the lake and the flooding of several "farm-to-market roads" disconnected many previously established communities in Mecklenburg, Iredell, Lincoln, and Catawba counties from one another.[79] The newly filled Lake Norman caused bridges like the highway 150 bridge to be rebuilt, and new roads to be built entirely for the purpose of reconnecting severed communities.[80]

U.S. Highway 21 was partially flooded with the development of Lake Norman, but the portion that was not remained the best way to travel from the surrounding lake areas to Charlotte.[78] The construction of I-77 created an easy way to get into the city.[79] Transportation to and from Charlotte no longer took place on the inconvenient U.S. 21, but instead I-77 provided a smoother commute into Charlotte. The completion of the interstate in 1975 also created an avenue for growth within the surrounding Lake Norman cities shown as housing developments, restaurants, and stores began to grow within the space.[79] With housing developments spreading around the lake, an exclusive nature of the area was also formed. The current size of the surrounding Lake Norman area has removed the easy commute that I-77 originally created. Today I-77 by Lake Norman is known for its traffic rather than its "new convenience".

In response to the heavy traffic of I-77 around Lake Norman, the construction of express lanes began in November 2015. The express lanes will improve traffic flow along 26 miles of I-77 by providing "more reliable travel time... from Brookshire Freeway (Exit 11) in Mecklenburg County to N.C. 150 (Exit 36) Iredell County".[81] The N.C. Department of Transportation contracted the project to I-77 Mobility Partners, a subsidiary of Spain-based contractor, Cintra.[82] The Department of Transportation states that funding the project privately allows the construction and opening of the project to take place much quicker than if funding was provided by the state.[81] Several residents have expressed concerns for the toll lanes as the construction has increased traffic rather than improving it, but the Department of Transportation is confident that the express lanes will improve commute time.[82]

Above the lake edit

Airparks edit

Lake Norman is home to two airparks, Long Island Airpark and Lake Norman Airpark. These "fly-in communities" are characterized by an airstrip with the majority of residents owning planes. Today, this airplane community, located on the western side of the lake, is thriving with about fifty lots. Established a little later in 1999, Long Island Airpark is a 140-acre community with fifty homes located along the northwest side of the lake. Each lot has access to either the airstrip or dock for seaplanes.[83] Lake Norman Airpark originated in the 1960s by men in an aviation club who acquired permission to build an airstrip along Lake Norman. The club's original fifty-one members dropped to twenty-one in 1971. Later, the National Guard built a beacon on the runway. In 1990, Tom Wilson Properties helped renovate and fix areas on the property.[84]

Air balloons edit

Located north of Lake Norman is Statesville, home to the first hot air balloon flight in North Carolina. Bill Meadows and Tracy Barnes conducted this feat, propelling Statesville to become a hub for hot air balloon life. Barnes established The Balloon Works to "manufacture and sell hot air balloons."[85] Today, The Balloon Works is now Firefly Balloons Factory, "one of the largest manufacturers of sport and commercial hot air balloons in the world."[86] Statesville has celebrated the area's history of hot air balloons through Carolina BalloonFest, which is a hot air balloon festival held every year for the past four decades. Color abounds as balloons ascend to the skies around sunrise and sunset during the festival. The Carolina BalloonFest is the second consecutively longest running hot air balloon festival in the United States.[85]

Unidentified flying objects edit

Unidentified flying objects have been spotted around Lake Norman for decades. Twenty have been spotted in the past thirty years, particularly near Duke Energy's McGuire Nuclear Station. UFO sightings have been more common around nuclear plants. George Fawcett, a North Carolina resident and UFO enthusiast, has kept records of Lake Norman sightings for the UFO Museum and Research Center, located in Roswell, New Mexico. His research shows that North Carolina has reported the fourth largest number UFO sightings. People have reported seeing UFOs in the Lake Norman area since 1968. The stories are similar in that there was a strange and rather large aircraft sighted. It only made a slight noise and disappeared as quickly as it arrived.[87]

Under the surface edit

On September 5, 2013, a submerged airplane was found in the waters of Lake Norman.[88] While on a routine dive, local firefighters found what they thought to be an airplane.[citation needed] They confirmed the object as an airplane using sonar technology.[88] The sunken airplane is located in the deepest part of Lake Norman west of Cornelius, North Carolina.[88] Near the Mecklenburg-Iredell county line, the plane is rumored to have been in the lake for over thirty years, meaning it would have sunk shortly after the airparks were established and around the time the first-recorded UFO sightings occurred. The Charlotte Fire Department gave all information about the plane to the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA has issued a statement saying that they are "investigating and...conducting a search of the aircraft ownership records in an effort to determine the aircraft's last owner."[89] When news of the airplane reached the public, a local resident immediately called the FAA in belief that the plane is hers. She reported that one of her planes sunk when she was conducting flight training in the 1970s. They safely landed the plane, but the pilot forgot to engage the lock gear, and it sank. She reports that no one was injured and spent a lot of money searching for it without success.[90] Multiple environmentalists have investigated the environmental impacts on the water's health, concluding that there is likely no more fuel and that the best way to combat the situation is to let the plane stay.

Normie, the Lake Norman Monster edit

There have been various reports of a Lake Norman Monster, also known as "Normie". Sightings were noted as early as 1996 and continue through today. While some swear to have seen a large, unidentifiable, amphibious creature, controversy remains over the monster's existence. The Lake Norman Monster stories parallel the Scottish legend of the Loch Ness Monster.

The Lake Norman region has seen continued Scottish influence since the 17th century, when the Jacobite conflicts of the 17th and 18th century compelled many lowland Scots to flee to Ireland, where they settled in Ulster. Hostile relations between the local Irish and these Scotch-Irish led some to leave Ireland for America. Many of these Scotch-Irish Americans ultimately settled in Mecklenburg County.[91] Evidence of Scottish influence in the Lake Norman area includes Presbyterian churches built by Scotch-Irish between 1745 and 1751, and the Highland Games tradition. The Loch Norman Highland Games, as well as other games in the Mecklenburg county, continue through today. In 1994, the Highland Games featured a hot air balloon with a Loch Ness Monster–inspired serpent design, suggesting that Lake Norman might have a monster of its own.[92]

In 2002, a website was created to capitalize on the story of the Lake Norman Monster. Complete with sighting diaries, "Normie" episodes of America's Monsters and Boogeymen, and Normie merchandise, the website perpetuates the image of Normie today.[93][94]

Possible explanations for monster sightings include misidentification of large fish species in the lake, including alligator gars, catfish, or American eels.

Ghost stories edit

Holly Bend Plantation edit

The Holly Oak Plantation home was built by Robert Davidson between 1795-1800. The plantation was home to Davidson and his family and many enslaved people who worked the plantation until the Civil War. Residents of the house after the Davidson family have reported hearing children playing under the porch and seeing figures hanging from trees, possibly enslaved people hung by angry enslavers. Many apparitions have been reported in the house, including an elderly woman sighted by in an upstairs bedroom by a member of the Charlotte Area Paranormal Society (CAPS) during an investigation they undertook at the home.[95]

Hopewell Presbyterian Church edit

There is a story that the cemetery of Hopewell Presbyterian Church is the home of the ghost of General William Lee Davidson. General Davidson was tasked with stopping the advance of British General Cornwallis at the end of the Revolutionary War. On February 1, 1781, General Davidson was the first casualty in the Battle of Cowans Ford, just minutes away from where the cemetery now stands. The British troops stripped the General of his clothes and left him on the grounds. That night, General Davidson's men spirited his body to Hopewell Presbyterian and had a hasty burial. On February 1 every year since his death, the ghost of General Davidson is said to emerge from his grave and ride once again into battle before disappearing into the mist. Reverend Jeff Lowrance, the pastor at Hopewell, says that every year people come in hopes of catching a sight of the ghostly visage.[95]

Latta Plantation edit

The Latta Plantation House was built in 1800 by James Latta, an Irish immigrant who rose to become one of the most prominent men in the area. He had a large family, all of whom were outlived by their parents. The current caretakes of the Latta house have reported a variety of unexplained sounds and events encountered during their time taking care of the home. Betty Pierce, a volunteer, says that whenever she was in the house alone and especially when she was making repairs or modifications, she has heard footsteps in empty hallways, and seen locked doors open of their own accord. She believes that these unexplained phenomena are the spirit of James Latta, checking up on this house and making sure that no changes too large are made.[96]

Oaklawn edit

In Huntersville there stands another plantation house, Oaklawn, which is purportedly the home of three spirits. Mrs. Carol Sandoff, the current owner of Oaklawn, bought the house in 1994. The most active ghost is that of a nameless child, most likely the child of the second owner Mr. John Moore, who appears as a shadowy, child-sized figure in the upstairs bedroom. He is said to have died of scarlet fever. He is said to run through the home, crying sometimes in the night, or to leave hand prints on fogged mirrors and glass.[96]

Recreation edit

 
Beach along Lake Norman in Ramsey Creek Park in Cornelius

Duke Power Company and recreation edit

Ever since Duke Power Company constructed Lake Norman, the company has played an integral part in fostering recreation on the lake. In 1964, the year the lake was finished, Duke Power Company leased parcels of land to people for $120 a year. At the time, land use around the lake was limited to hikers and owners of small weekend cabins. However, popularity began to grow, and land parcel lease prices jumped to $2,500 just five years later.[97] With the construction of Interstate 77 in the mid 1970s, Lake Norman became highly accessible to residents of Charlotte, causing an influx of homes, restaurants, golf courses, and various recreational facilities to flood the region.

The Lake Norman area continued into the 2010s, and Duke Power Company continued to play a key role. The company has constructed areas for public fishing as well as boating access around the lake, and Duke Power Company also offers free tours of their facilities on the lake.[97]

In December 2017, Duke Power Company received approval to create an estimated 89 recreation sites on the lake. The project is estimated to take about 20 years, and facilities are projected to include more fishing grounds and boat ramps as well as campgrounds, parking lots, and picnic areas.[98]

Hunting and fishing edit

Fish on Lake Norman consists primarily of Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass, Catfish and Bluegill. Each year, anglers are drawn to the area for fishing tournaments hosted by Fishing League Worldwide. Fishing on Lake Norman has also made a substantial contribution to the local economy, as local guide services and tackle shops rely on this form of recreation.[99]

All of the fish in Lake Norman were introduced by humans, as the lake was man-made. Striped bass, introduced for fishing purposes, and Blue Catfish, introduced to control Shad populations, were among the largest species of fish introduced to the lake. Flathead Catfish were later introduced illegally and has unclear origins, but, unlike Blue Catfish, the Flathead is predatory and feeds on other fish.[99] By the 1990s, fish populations plummeted as a result of rising water temperatures. This continued into the 2000s to the point where Striped Bass were pushed to the brink of extinction. Eventually, Spotted Bass were introduced, as they can exist in warmer waters. Spotted and Hybrid Striped-Spotted Bass are the main sport fish in the lake today, although Catfish is the largest fish family in Lake Norman.

Though not attracting as many people as fishing, the autumn waterfowl season attracts hunters to the area. While birds are plentiful on the lake, Lake Norman has lost popularity in the hunting community due to development around the lake as well as more strict regulations regarding hunting and firearms in North Carolina.[100]

Lake Norman State Park edit

Duke Power Company donated 1,328 acres of land that eventually became Lake Norman State Park in September 1962. Since then, the park has been a hub for recreation on the lake. Facilities include 30.5 miles of mountain biking/hiking/running trails by the name of the Itusi Trail, the Lakeshore Trail at 5 miles long dedicated to hiking and running only, a 125-yard beach for swimming that is open April 1- October 31, and dock facility that is utilized for both boating and fishing.[101] Use of the docks and boat ramps is free, but a fee of $5 is required for use of the swimming beach. Other facilities include a seasonal campground with 32 sites and kitchen facilities as well as restrooms and a fireplace available for rent, making the Park an accessible and reasonable option for activities and events.[102]

Visitors to Lake Norman increased by nearly 50,000 between 2016 and 2017, with 962,000 visitors to the park in 2017.[citation needed] The park is one of 12 state parks to have more than 750,000 visitors in a year (there are 39 state parks in the North Carolina). According to park Superintendent Greg Schneider, people often visit the park in an attempt to reconnect with nature.[103]

Lake Norman State Park holds a rich ecological history. Throughout the 18th, 19th, and part of the 20th century, the land surrounding Lake Norman consisted of cultivated fields. It was not until the mid 20th century that forests, mostly consisting of Pine trees, began to form through intentional planting as well as natural expansion.[104] However, an infestation of Southern Pine Beetles decimated the Pine forests, leaving hardwoods such as Hickory and Dogwood trees to be the main presence. Today, Pine trees can only be found in small patches throughout the park.

The park is home to vast amounts of other wildlife as well, including over 35 species of mammals and a variety of amphibians. Park Superintendent Gregory Schneider regards the mammals in the park in the park as abundant and active, stating, "White-tailed deer and eastern grey squirrel are readily visible from the park roads" and "Coyotes can often be heard yipping and howling during the evening hours."[105] Frogs and turtles can be seen regularly, as they inhabit the wetlands along the park's shores. There are also a variety of snakes, including the venomous Copperhead, living near the shores, but they often go unseen. The park's birdlife consists of both residential and migratory birds, such as geese and mallards. Red-tailed hawks as well as wild turkey also reside in and around the park.[105]

Davidson College Lake Campus edit

Planning for Lake Campus began in 1959 after Duke Energy announced that it would donate 110 acres of lake front property to Davidson College. The company agreed to donate the land in 1952 and by 1953 the process of building the actual campus began.

Parts of frolics, a Davidson Spring time tradition, were held at lake campus during the 1960s. We have an example of an announcement from 1964 of a regatta held during the fall for the Pledge classes of each fraternity. Each fraternity was allowed to compete, provided that they could supply a team of three pledges and construct a raft with a total cost of under $5. Also during the 1960s, there was a serious effort to move Patterson court, the center of Greek life at Davidson college, to the Lake Campus.

Through copies of Lake Campus rules from different decades, we can mark their progress in becoming more strict over time. for example: In 1975, there were no rules concerning the consumption of alcohol on the lake campus. At this time, guns were not entirely prohibited, as students could bring shotguns to the grounds provided that it was waterfowl season.[106]

 
Lake Norman - Peninsula Yacht Club

Counties edit

Settlements edit

References edit

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External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lake Norman.
  • Lake Norman Yacht Club Website
  • Lake Norman Bathymetric Map

February 15, 2024
lake, norman, this, article, lead, section, short, adequately, summarize, points, please, consider, expanding, lead, provide, accessible, overview, important, aspects, article, february, 2022, largest, made, body, fresh, water, north, carolina, created, betwee. This article s lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article February 2022 Lake Norman is the largest man made body of fresh water in North Carolina It was created between 1959 and 1964 1 as part of the construction of the Cowans Ford Dam by Duke Energy Located in Iredell County 40 miles north of Charlotte Lake Norman State Park boasts the region s popular mountain biking trail system Lake NormanTypical coastlineLake NormanShow map of North CarolinaLake NormanShow map of the United StatesLocationCatawba Iredell Lincoln Mecklenburg counties North Carolina United StatesCoordinates35 29 N 80 56 W 35 483 N 80 933 W 35 483 80 933Lake typeReservoirPrimary inflowsCatawba RiverPrimary outflowsCatawba River via Cowans Ford DamCatchment area1 790 square miles 4 600 km2 Basin countriesUnited StatesMax length33 6 miles 54 1 km Max width9 miles 14 km Surface area32 510 acres 50 80 sq mi 132 km2 Average depth33 5 feet 10 2 m Max depth112 feet 34 m Water volume1 093 600 acre feet 1 348 900 000 m Residence time207 daysShore length1520 miles 840 km Surface elevation760 feet 230 m IslandsMany Near 60 SettlementsLake Norman of Catawba Davidson Cornelius Westport1 Shore length is not a well defined measure Contents 1 Geography 2 Hydroelectrical power 3 Natural history 3 1 Climate 3 2 Geology 3 2 1 Erosion 3 2 2 Water quality 3 3 Ecology 3 3 1 Fauna 3 3 2 Flora 3 4 Environmental management of the lake 4 Cultural history 4 1 Catawba history 4 2 Before the lake 4 3 Naming 4 3 1 Long Sam 4 4 Development 4 4 1 Creation 4 4 1 1 Regulations 4 4 2 Local housing 4 4 3 I 77 4 5 Above the lake 4 5 1 Airparks 4 5 2 Air balloons 4 5 3 Unidentified flying objects 4 5 4 Under the surface 4 6 Normie the Lake Norman Monster 4 7 Ghost stories 4 7 1 Holly Bend Plantation 4 7 2 Hopewell Presbyterian Church 4 7 3 Latta Plantation 4 7 4 Oaklawn 5 Recreation 5 1 Duke Power Company and recreation 5 2 Hunting and fishing 5 3 Lake Norman State Park 5 4 Davidson College Lake Campus 6 Counties 7 Settlements 8 References 9 External linksGeography editLake Norman is fed by the Catawba River and drains into Mountain Island Lake to the south It was named after former Duke Power president Norman Atwater Cocke Lake Norman is sometimes referred to as the inland sea of North Carolina it offers 520 miles 840 km of shoreline and a surface area of more than 50 square miles 130 km2 Full pond at Lake Norman is 760 feet 230 m above mean sea level Interstate 77 and North Carolina Highway 150 cross Lake Norman at different points citation needed Hydroelectrical power editLake Norman provides electricity to the Piedmont region of the Carolinas It powers the generators at the hydroelectric station at Cowans Ford Dam is used by the coal fired Marshall Steam Station and by McGuire Nuclear Station to cool the reactors while generating the steam that drives their turbines The lake supplies water to Lincoln County Catawba County Iredell County Charlotte and other towns in Mecklenburg County particularly Cornelius Davidson and Huntersville citation needed Natural history editClimate edit Lake Norman as with most of the rest of North Carolina has a humid subtropical climate Cfa in the Koppen Climate Classification featuring warm to hot summers and cold to mild winters There is no dry season and rainfall is highly variable year round Lake Norman gets a mean annual precipitation of about 43 1 inches 1 090 mm per year over an average of 75 precipitation days with approximately 41 1 inches 1 040 mm being rain and the other 2 inches 51 mm being snow Wind speeds are on average highest in February while they are at their lowest in August Lake Norman borders four counties in North Carolina Catawba Iredell Mecklenburg and Lincoln and is present in both the Southern Piedmont and Central Piedmont climate divisions July is normally the warmest month in these two climate divisions with an average daily maximum temperature of 90 F 32 C and an average daily minimum of 70 F 21 C January is normally the coolest month with an average daily maximum of 51 F 11 C and an average daily minimum of 29 F 2 C The all time maximum of 107 F 42 C was recorded in 1954 while the all time minimum of 5 F 21 C was recorded in 1985 2 Climate data for Lake Norman North Carolina elevation 760 feet 230 m Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearRecord high F C 79 26 81 27 88 31 92 33 99 37 107 42 106 41 104 40 101 38 95 35 85 29 80 27 107 42 Mean daily maximum F C 51 11 56 13 64 18 72 22 80 27 87 31 90 32 88 31 82 28 73 23 63 17 54 12 90 32 Mean daily minimum F C 29 2 32 0 39 4 48 9 57 14 66 19 70 21 68 20 62 17 49 9 40 4 32 0 29 2 Record low F C 5 21 4 20 1 18 25 4 31 1 40 4 54 12 49 9 34 1 25 4 11 12 3 16 5 21 Average precipitation inches mm 3 85 98 3 66 93 3 71 94 2 85 72 2 99 76 3 99 101 3 48 88 4 45 113 3 66 93 3 86 98 3 06 78 3 54 90 43 1 1 090 Source The Weather Channel 3 Geology edit nbsp Lake Norman in Ramsey Creek Park in CorneliusLake Norman is a man made lake that is 33 6 miles 54 1 km long 9 miles 14 km wide and has 520 miles 840 km of shoreline Its average depth is 33 5 feet 10 2 m but at its outlet it reaches a depth of 110 feet 34 m The lake is mainly underlain by interfingered igneous and metamorphic bedrock The bottom of the lake consists of various clay and plastic soils These mechanically engineered soils are maintained and constructed with artificial enforcing which adds a stabilization factor and solidifies the lake so it will not break down and wear away Clay soil contains a high percentage of particles that becomes sticky when wet and therefore holds together better 4 Lake Norman lies atop two geologic belts the Charlotte belt and the Inner Piedmont belt 5 The Charlotte belt is made up of igneous rock that is 300 to 500 million years old Igneous rocks are used in construction hence why the lake was built on top of them The Inner Piedmont belt is the most metamorphosed belt and contains deformed metamorphosed volcanic and sedimentary rocks approximately 500 to 700 million years old The lake is built on the Catawba River and is underlain by inceptisol soils which are found in river floodplains The soil is made of brown forest soil deposits and includes a wide variety of dissimilar soil characteristics In North Carolina inceptisols cover almost the whole state except areas around the east coast Erosion edit The main cause of erosion issues on Lake Norman is the density of residential neighborhoods located so close to the shorelines of the lake 6 Since Lake Norman is well known for its recreational activities there is a continuously high demand for real estate on Lake Norman Stormwater runoff plays the largest role in erosion issues due to the amount of impervious surfaces from dense development When Davidson College was in the process of purchasing property along Lake Norman and finalizing plans for its lake campus many assessments were conducted to analyze the quality of the land and quality of dams feeding into the lake Initially a report completed in 1990 by Dr Joe A Edmisten an ecological consultant concluded that there was evidence of erosion in Wetland 1 of the report due to the level of urbanization in the area 7 In addition in the preliminary examination of the dam on Concord Road in 1990 researchers found that it was necessary to implement two erosion control basins at the primary drainage points on the Davidson property to avoid future erosion issues 8 All erosion efforts on and around Davidson s property were noted in two reports one in March 1992 and the other in June 1992 that they were going to be maintained by the Mecklenburg County Guidelines and Specifications for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control 9 Currently regulations enforced by the state of North Carolina are intended to prevent erosion issues and preserve the lake and the land surrounding it A regulation established on June 30 2001 states that there must be a 50 foot buffer zone between the lake and new housing where vegetation is required to be preserved 10 Older neighborhoods that were already in place at the time the regulation was created were grandfathered into the previous 30 foot buffer zone regulation 11 Officials from the North Carolina Division of Water Quality state that vegetation stabilizes river banks prevents soil from eroding into water and filters storm water runoff 11 Water quality edit Although Duke Energy claims to the contrary coal ash contamination from the power company continues to be a major concern to residents around the lake In spite of Duke Energy s efforts to obscure their own findings by issuing a 20 000 page report in 2018 data confirms that levels of radium in groundwater far exceed EPA drinking water standards and could clearly harm those who use this water for drinking 12 Though there are few recent documented reports containing data about the current water quality of Lake Norman data from previous years can help estimate the current specifics of the water quality Duke Energy also routinely monitors the water quality of Lake Norman as a requirement of the NPDES permit from the McGuire Nuclear Station and there have been no obvious short term or long term impacts of the nuclear station where data samples were taken 13 Periodically reports from Duke Energy will be released updating the public on status of the quality of both water from the lake and groundwater sources 14 There are two public water quality reports from different sources that were conducted in 2007 They help paint a picture of what the water quality of the lake was like in the past and what it is currently like The first sample series included a variety of sample collections from different areas of the lake In a sample series where five different lakes along the Catawba Chain were analyzed and compared researchers noted that Lake Norman had some of the best water quality of the five lakes sampled within the chain 6 In the report nine samples of water were taken at eight stations within the lake and none of the samples violated any of the local water quality standards 6 Specifically the report found each of the following when analyzing the samples Low levels of organic nitrogen Elevated levels of inorganic nitrogen most likely due to drought conditions of the lake at the time of the report Total phosphorus levels below the state Division of Water Quality laboratory detections All other parameters were normalOverall this report concluded that the water quality of Lake Norman was normal citation needed A second report conducted in 2007 found similar results as the previous report In this one Lake Norman was monitored by Division of Water Quality staff once a month from May to September The mean Secchi depths of this report ranged from 1 8 to 2 6 meters 5 9 to 8 5 ft which indicates good water quality 13 Specifics on the water quality itself from the report include the following Low turbidity values Total phosphorus levels below Division of Water Quality detection levels in all areas except the most upstream sampling site Low ammonia levels Low total organic nitrogen levels Elevated levels of nitrite and nitrate concentrations Chlorophyll a ranged from low to moderateThe similarities between the two reports indicate consistent and reliable data analysis on Lake Norman These reports along with routine updates from Duke Energy will help researchers to continue to document and monitor the water quality of Lake Norman in the future citation needed Duke Energy has a permit to dump wastewater into an upstream section of the river as long as the water the company extracts from the lake is of the same quality as the water being dumped into the lake 15 Duke Energy has been making some improvements when it comes to the amount of wastewater being distributed into the lake However 500 000 gallons of sewage was dumped into the lake according to a report by the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation in May 2004 16 Efforts were taken to ensure that the overall water quality of the lake does not decline as a direct cause of wastewater entering the lake citation needed Ecology edit North Carolina s Piedmont is a region of high biodiversity and Lake Norman is important for its diversity of birds fish mammals and plants Lake Norman is the largest body of water in the Catawba River watershed and the largest lake in North Carolina Lake Norman s shoreline has a length of 520 miles 840 km and an area of more than 50 square miles 130 km2 Lake Norman s surrounding ecology includes mesic mixed hardwood forest dry oak hickory forest dry mesic oak hickory forest Piedmont bottomland forest and Piedmont alluvial forest 17 Fauna edit Fish populations are an important ecological actor in Lake Norman Recreational sportfishing has supplanted subsistence and commercial fishing as the main mode of fishing on the lake Many of the fish were artificially introduced by fishing clubs and organizations The fish population is quite diverse including but not limited to Black bullhead Blue catfish Bluegill Channel catfish Crappie Flathead catfish Largemouth bass Sauger Smallmouth bass Spotted bass Striped bass The striped bass is Lake Norman s most popular fish citation needed Stripers tend to dwell in the lake s shallow shoreline during the spring and in deeper waters during the summer 18 There has been a change in bass to form hybrid species as a result of artificial stocking practices 19 The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission NCWRC introduced the striped bass in 1969 because they were once the dominant open water fish in Lake Norman However the striped bass population declined quickly prompting the NCWRC to discontinue the stocking program in 2012 20 Walleye White bass Yellow perch Yellowfin breamThe basin is also home to a large variety of animal residents many of them unique and rare to the Piedmont area and which thrive off of the resources provided by Lake Norman The list includes Crayfish Dragonfly Heelsplitter The federally endangered Carolina heelsplitter a freshwater mussel is sensitive to changes in water quality Some Carolina heelsplitter populations have been reduced to a few dozen mussels Sediment pollution is a culprit in the mussel s decline There are only three populations in North Carolina and 10 total populations in the world of this sharp edged mollusk which grows to only about 4 inches 100 mm long There are many mammal species that have inhabited the Piedmont region for a long period of time before Lake Norman was created The mammals that inhabit the Lake Norman area include Beaver Coyote Eastern cottontail Eastern gray squirrel Eastern mole Muskrat Raccoon Virginia opossum White tailed deer Populations of reptiles and amphibians have found resource filled and safe dwelling locations around the Lake Norman ecosystem Many of the reptiles and amphibians inhabit the perimeter of Lake Norman These include Frogs Turtles Water snakesMost of the snakes found around the perimeter of Lake Norman are harmless and seldom seen However one must be aware of the presence of the venomous Eastern copperhead which can severely harm a human with a single bite 21 Birds and waterfowl are also important ecological actors that contribute to the overall health and balance of the Lake Norman ecosystem Of a total of 115 bird species 54 species are neotropical migrants and 27 were transients to the North Carolina Piedmont The Catawba River is a suitable migratory corridor for a variety of these birds There are also 19 species of shorebirds that have been recorded as dwelling around the Catawba River 17 Below is a list of birds that can be found in the greater Lake Norman area including waterfowl 22 nbsp A wild osprey spreads its wings American coot American crow American robin Bald eagle Belted kingfisher Black swan Black vulture Blue grosbeak Brown thrasher Brown headed cowbird Canada goose Cattle egret Cedar waxwing Chuck will s widow Common grackle Common raven Dark eyed junco Eastern bluebird Eastern kingbird Eastern towhee Field sparrow Great blue heron Great egret House finch Killdeer Mallard Mourning dove Mute swan Northern cardinal Osprey Red bellied woodpecker Red tailed hawk Red winged blackbird Ring billed gull Turkey vulture White ibis White throated sparrow Yellow breasted chat Flora edit Many native plants found around Lake Norman are also common in other parts of North Carolina such as trees and flowering plants nbsp White snakerootMany different trees are found in and around Lake Norman Species of the genus Baccharis L are typically found in warm and subtropical regions of the United States One such species of this genus Silverling reaches tree size and is native to North Carolina It is most common in marshes and areas with moist soil Another species of plant typically found in areas with moist soil and riverbanks is known as hornbeam or ironwood Belonging to the genus Carpinus L and native to North Carolina it is a type of beech tree known for its heavy and hard wood resulting in the name ironwood Another tree native to North Carolina and found in and around Lake Norman is the yellow poplar or tulip poplar which is commonly found in forests with moist soil and floodplains Also found in and around Lake Norman is sassafras often located in temperate climates and native to North Carolina Many flowering plants are also found around the lake including Indian mallow Also found in the vicinity of the lake is baneberry a part of the Ranunculacease buttercup family Another flowering plant found around the lake is white snakeroot Ageratina altissima It is a perennial herb and is poisonous containing tremetol a type of toxic alcohol In addition stork s bill or herons bill is found around Lake Norman and serves as food for some small mammals Environmental management of the lake edit Lake Norman and the surrounding shoreline serve as a habitat for a diverse array of plants and wildlife as well as a place for a myriad of human activities Maintaining this habitat to simultaneously preserve endangered species keep invasive species at bay and maintain health and safety standards for the people that live work and recreate on the lake is an arduous undertaking The management of the lake is complicated by the presence of multiple stakeholders in the lake s management often with conflicting interests and priorities 16 Duke Energy owns most of the land underneath Lake Norman as well as the land above the lake up to an elevation of 232 metres 761 ft with the exception of land platted to other ownership Certain lakebed portions are owned by families that settled on the banks of the Catawba River prior to the flooding of Norman Those families allowed Duke Energy to flood their properties yet the lakebed still remains property of these families 23 Duke Energy is in charge of management of the lake itself as well as any property such as lake walls docks and beaches that enter into this zone 16 The land that falls under the jurisdiction of Duke Energy is subject to the ordinances of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission while the land surrounding the lake both publicly and privately owned is subject to the ordinances of the state of North Carolina and the county in which the land falls Catawba County Iredell County Lincoln County or Mecklenburg County 16 Additionally the Lake Norman Marine Commission and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission as well as many non governmental organizations and environmental organizations play roles in the regulation and management of the lake 24 Environmental duties are divided between these different stakeholders but some fall under split jurisdiction Water quality for example is monitored and managed by both Duke Energy and the state of North Carolina 16 Other partnerships are voluntary Duke Energy for example partners with many wildlife organizations to minimize the impact of human activities on the environment 25 nbsp Hydrilla verticillataThe management of the invasive plant hydrilla Hydrilla verticillata has been a particularly challenging undertaking for these stakeholders 16 Hydrilla native to India was introduced to the United States in the 1950s and was first seen in Lake Norman in 2001 Hydrilla was likely transported to Lake Norman on the beds and motor blades of boats transported from infected lakes 16 Hydrilla crowds out native species impedes irrigation and clogs boat motors 26 When hydrilla first takes hold there is an initial upsurge in fish populations as bait fish which form a vital link in the food chain flourish in hydrilla but as the infestation grows too thick it chokes out other plants and fish who get caught in the weeds and cannot swim 16 Hydrilla also has a harmful impact on bird populations It contains a harmful bacterium that acts as a neurotoxin for some birds In Lake Norman these bacteria cause sickness in coot who eat the hydrilla as well as in eagles who eat coot 27 The Lake Norman Marine Commission seeks to keep the hydrilla population in Lake Norman at bay by introducing grass carp that feed on the aquatic plants 27 Other environmental management projects on Lake Norman focus their efforts on helping native species Notably the Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists LNWC with donations from Duke Energy s Habitat Enhancement Program began a program in 2014 to promote nesting sites and preserve habitat for great blue herons and osprey 28 Since then LNWC and Duke Energy have put up five nesting platforms throughout the lake each year Additionally Duke Energy has protected Heron Island and several other islands throughout the lake as a place for great blue herons to raise their young 29 Cultural history editCatawba history edit Long before the Catawba River was dammed in 1963 to create Lake Norman the river and surrounding area were home to the Catawba people of North Carolina Now with a reservation in Rock Hill South Carolina this Indian nation lived along the Catawba River for 6 000 years 30 The Catawba River has long been a part of the historical narrative of settlers as its presence provided sites with water and key cartographic information for traveling Figure 1 illustrates a map drawn in 1775 by Henry Mouzon of North and South Carolina in which the Catawba River and other natural features are detailed in full 31 For comparison Figure 2 depicts a map of North Carolina from 1958 only a few years before the creation of Lake Norman When placed together one can visualize the importance of this location over the last few centuries The 18th century map s cartographer took painstaking effort in accurately portraying the topographic facets of the landscape while maintaining an overarching emphasis on the counties towns and indigenous frontiers throughout The 20th century map shows similar details with slight changes in the Catawba River s course much of which can be accounted for by natural processes such as erosion or cutoff nbsp Figure 1 An Accurate Map of North and South Carolina 1775 Henry Mouzon Archived by Davidson College nbsp Figure 2 State of North Carolina 1958 U S Geological Survey Archived by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Because of the river s desirability and the overarching push toward American colonialism settlers in the 18th and 19th centuries fought over these lands with indigenous peoples The removal of Native Americans from the Southeast is well documented especially with the plight of the Cherokee Nation through their journey on the Trail of Tears 32 The Catawba people faced a similar struggle as they attempted to preserve their own culture while maintaining alliances with the Cherokee and other tribes Although the process of removal had begun earlier emphasized in the 1700s with the rise of slavery and cotton agriculture the 1840 Nations Ford Treaty ceded Catawba land to South Carolina and provided in return three hundred acres of which is to be good arable lands fit for cultivation to be purchased in Haywood County North Carolina or in some other mountainous or thinly populated region 33 In a letter sent by North Carolina Governor John Motley Morehead in 1841 he refused to accept the Catawba and sarcastically proposed that the North Carolina Cherokee should instead settle themselves in South Carolina 32 Such sentiments proved common during this period as in 1847 the governor of South Carolina David Johnson remarked They the Catawba are in effect dissolved 34 Accordingly although the Catawba were effectively displaced from today s Lake Norman region their namesake and artifacts remain Considering the long time historical presence of the Catawba it follows that some pieces of their material culture would exist underneath the now flooded region of Lake Norman Pottery for example is considered a cultural legacy to the Catawba and was traditionally dug from clay holes along the banks of the Catawba River 35 Other artifacts may include tobacco pipes gun parts glass beads and nose bangles Before the influence of firearms through trading arrows were also used these arrowheads today are now considered prized collector s pieces 36 Today archeologists are still finding new sites where the Catawba and other Native Americans lived Further up the river in Morganton past the dams built by Duke Energy a 500 year old village was discovered in 2012 Research on the Catawba s presence in the Carolinas continues to be a long term effort for archaeologists and historians alike as seen in the Catawba Project run by UNC Chapel Hill 37 Similar places and archaeological remains likely exist beneath the waves of the lake sitting alongside the farmlands cemeteries and other physical remnants predating the 1960s Before the lake edit The construction of the Cowan s Ford Dam and the subsequent creation of Lake Norman in the late 1950s and early 1960s represented just one part of a larger hydroelectric project on the Catawba River dating back to the early 1900s Furthermore it fits into the larger context of river manipulation and the energy water nexus that developed in the U S South in the early to mid 1900s 38 Over the course of the twentieth century public and private entities across the U S South sought water management solutions for two primary purposes environmental control limiting flooding and drought and electric power production 38 In 1900 Walker Gill Wylie and Robert H Wylie formed the Catawba Power Company which was purchased by the Duke brothers upon the completion of the construction of its first power station in 1904 39 Throughout the early 1900s the Duke Power Company sought to build a market for hydroelectric power and develop an interconnected hydroelectric system rather than random development of isolated sites 39 While Duke Energy s permit to construct the Cowan s Ford Dam was not obtained until 1958 the company s plans for the project date back to 1904 40 As part of its project to expand demand for electricity the Duke Power Company invested in textile mills throughout the region By 1928 the Catawba River system was nicknamed the world s most electrified river with ten dams and dozens of powerhouses dispersed up and down the river On August 25 1957 The Charlotte Observer reported Duke Power Company s proposal to build the Cowan s Ford Lake the latest and last of Duke Power Co s dammed up creatures of the Catawba 41 In the article announcing the company s plan the Charlotte Observer framed the infrastructure project largely in terms of hydroelectric power and recreation opportunities declaring that the dam would create a whopping charge of electrical energy for Duke and a new sportsman s playground for water wacky Carolinians 41 In a 1959 meeting at the Statesville Kiwanis Club Duke Energy representative Bill Ward explained that the primary motivation behind the construction of the Cowan s Ford Dam was to provide power for peak load periods 40 Unlike the steam generated power plants Duke had already constructed in the area the Cowan s Ford Dam would include water driven turbines that could easily be started and stopped to control energy generation 40 The creation of the dam was therefore an opportunity for Duke Energy to increase its market share in the textile industry which was transitioning production from steam generated power to electricity 42 However this was not the only ambition behind the project In a 1959 publication of the Statesville Record amp Landmark home sites that would soon become lakefront properties were being advertised by Duke Energy to potential customers Furthermore the company discussed its goal of bringing new industry to the area surrounding the soon to be lake While these plans provided future economic stimulus for the surrounding area they also marked a distinct shift from the industry and communities that were currently residing in the path of the impending flood 40 The local newspaper record from the late 1950s and early 1960s showed little concern for the land and communities that would be flooded and displaced due to the creation of Lake Norman According to the Charlotte Observer the land that would be flooded was 70 timberland and most property to be submerged was already owned by Duke 41 In anticipation of the flooding after the completion of the dam Duke Power employed forester Carl Blades to purchase land from reluctant farmers 43 He ultimately purchased 30 000 acres 120 km2 of family farmland that would end up submerged 44 Because Lake Norman was anticipated to be relatively shallow Duke had to scrub the land clean of trees homes and other debris to remove underwater hazards Those individuals who would be displaced were often hesitant but there weren t any huge protests Some residents even turned the burden of the new lake into a boon A number of farmers benefited by holding on to what would soon become expensive lakefront property while other residents refused to sell to Duke Energy and as a result leased their water rights to the company 42 The project to construct Cowan s Ford Dam broke ground in 1959 Upon the dam s completion in 1962 the lake began to fill with water After the construction of dam the Catawba River slowly covered the 30 000 acres of land where farms mills plantations and entire communities once resided 45 Historic sites such as the battlefield for the Revolutionary War Battle of Cowan s Ford were also flooded during the creation of Lake Norman The mill towns of East Monbo and Long Island closed in 1959 and 1961 respectively in anticipation of the formation of the lake Situated on the banks of the Catawba River the mills were extremely at risk of inundation The proposal for Lake Norman and Cowan s Ford Dam had brought uncertainty to the community of oldtimers living in these mill towns In a segment titled Where will the lake come Douglas Eisele of the Statesville Record and Landmark remarked on the mill communities public memory of earlier flooding and resilience writing will man s ingenuity finally take down what two historic floods could not destroy 40 While the foundations of the mill towns building remain beneath the lake some families moved their houses outside the range of the lake flooding 46 Furthermore several cemeteries such as the Caldwell Family Cemetery and Flemming Family Cemetery are now covered by the lake 47 Duke Energy tracked down family members of those buried in the surrounding cemeteries to determine how the graves should be handled before the flood Many individuals asked for the gravestones to be transported to a new location and Duke ensured the markers were cleaned and repaired once they were moved 46 Duke Power partnered with the state of North Carolina to establish Lake Norman State Park It has also built two bank fishing areas and eight public boating access areas along the shoreline One site is leased to Mecklenburg County and one to Iredell County Game fish in Lake Norman include catfish crappie bluegill and yellow perch as well as striped largemouth spotted white bass hybrids and long nosed gar Lake Norman has also become home to multiple species of wildlife including eastern box turtle soft shell turtle snapping turtle black eastern rat snake and the Northern water snake citation needed Naming edit Lake Norman was named after Norman Atwater Cocke former president of Duke Energy Cocke was born on November 20 1884 James Cocke and Sarah Atwater in Prince George County Virginia A graduate of New York Law School he began his career with Duke Energy in 1906 as an attorney becoming a Vice President and director of the company in 1927 48 Cocke was president of Duke Energy from 1947 to 1959 49 Under his leadership Duke Energy representatives spent a great deal of time planning the new lake convincing locals to leave the future lakebed and working with state officials to get support for the project 50 Cocke would also communicate with Davidson College in order to establish a satellite location for the college along the shores of the future lake 51 In 1960 Duke Energy stated that the lake would be named in Norman s honor as he had retired as president of Duke Energy during the previous year 48 Long Sam edit The objective for a couple of local reporters and a photographer was simply to find a spot along the lake to observe and try to get the scoop on the new Duke Power Lake Photographer Fletcher Davis came along with but amongst the densely forested spot they saw something unexpected They found a girl described as a statuesque young girl carved from the classical patterns of a Greek Goddess In the Tom McKnight article for the Charlotte Observer August 4 1957 the men who find her describe the odd circumstances in which they stumbled upon her Sam Fletcher described her as A second Ava Gardener if one ever lived The description of her in the Observer called her primitive and savage in her beauty A second column in the Observer by Gary Davis describes her as a fairy tale only real and dubs her The Girl in Black The comparisons for her didn t stop there however as she was called a living Long Sam Long Sam being a girl featured in a newspaper comic in the mid 50s that featured a country bumpkin placed in a non bumpkin world 52 The comic created by Al Capp featured a tall voluptuous naive mountain girl who was raised hidden from The comparison is due to her beauty and also the perception they had of her as a country bumpkin The girl herself is named Jimmy but due to one of her brothers later being named Jim she is now called Dorothy Dorothy Brown What she wants more than anything however is high school education since she said You can t be anybody without a high school education 53 Here the contrast between her and the caricature can be seen she is not some naive girl but rather someone striving for being someone greater Her goal was all about being somebody particularly education The column caught national attention with the Associated Press releasing article with titles like the Backwoods Beauty Nature Girl and Long Sam 54 Dorothy Brown the girl in the photograph became a national sensation She was invited to New York City by Ed Sullivan and made the trip with the photographer and writer of the original article Life magazine called her a living doll and Carolina prototype for Long Sam heroine of the Al Capp cartoon Ultimately Dorothy took the 1000 from her appearance on Ed Sullivan and returned 54 She took the opportunity for education and graduated with a degree in education from the Woman s College of the University of North Carolina McKnight and Davis said If she hadn t been by the well that day if Duke Power hadn t planned the lake who s to say what would have happened The photograph captured a sweet young girl who just wanted an education After her fade from the limelight she ultimately achieved her dreams This type of story is all based around the development of the lake The lake currently almost all owned by Duke in the 1950s was needed by the company for a project 55 The project announced in the 1950s was for building a dam where Gen William Lee Davidson was killed The whole reason this photo occurred was due to the expansion on the lake by Duke in this period The land around the lake was vastly underdeveloped and many different groups of people inhabited the Lake region Long Sam exists in an in between of time periods where the lake was starting to prosper but only around the locals Development edit Creation edit Duke Power s plans to construct Lake Norman began in 1904 The Old Catawba Station Dam marked the beginning of the sixty year process of Lake Norman s creation By 1928 Duke Power then known as Southern Power had created over ten dams along the river with the intended goal of using these dams to become the electrical supplier of the whole region Throughout this time Duke Power began purchasing land along the Catawba River to minimize the number of people required to move once the Dam flooded the land The Cowan s Ford site was chosen to build the dam that would complete the sixty year project 56 To create the dam and Lake Norman itself Duke Power required a project license A project license required the approval of town halls across the areas affected by the transformation of the river To demonstrate the effect of the lake Duke Power created a map detailing the areas facing consequences from Lake Norman Stemming mainly from the lake s commercial aspects Duke Power was granted the license in 1957 by the Federal Power Commission despite some resistance due to the historical landmarks that would be submerged by the lake 57 Along with the project license Duke Power received permission to clear over 23 000 acres of vegetation in places affected by the flooding While Duke s purchasing of a large portion of the land helped minimize the damage to communities many faced relocation Construction began in 1959 with an address from Governor Hodges and an honorary flipping of the first dynamite switch 58 Construction of the dam finished in 1962 and along with it Lake Norman encompassing over 33 000 acres and 750 miles of shoreline was created 59 Regulations edit The creation of Lake Norman requires the implementation of new laws and regulations Fishing and boating regulations on Lake Norman follow the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission s guidelines Fishing can be done without a license but live bait must be used To protect wildlife certain methods are banned such as fish traps and trap lines 60 Fishing and the composition of the Lake itself has undergone many changes throughout Lake Norman s history The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has introduced certain species of fish to the lake such as the blue catfish and the striped bass The Commission regularly introduces populations of the native fish species to ensure healthy populations 61 The creation of the lake also introduced the need for new boating regulations Boats with engines operating at over 10 horsepower must be registered with the state Multiple controversies relating to boating have occurred in relation to Lake Norman resulting in some attempts to limit the use of yachts and other large boats on Lake Norman 62 To govern these regulations the Lake Norman Safety Commission formed in 1965 aimed at educating recreational users of the lake and enforcing regulations The committee was created as a reaction to a fatal boating accident in 1965 63 Other regulations include the creation of the Lake Norman Commission consisting of the Lincoln Catawba Iredell and Mecklenburg counties The commission set rules into place to promote safety while on the water including placing restrictions on the speed of boats while within 150 feet on the Marina and punishments for the defacement of signs 64 Lake Norman has resulted in the creation of new wildlife regulations Certain islands along the lake are now designated protected areas for the Blue Heron by the North Carolina Wild Commission 65 Future nuclear plants along Lake Norman faced pushback from environmental groups due to wildlife concerns of the effects on the wildlife After inspections and governmental approval the plans for nuclear power were found to have no effect on the local wildlife 66 Other points of concern have been the fish populations pollution of the lake and the beginning of the recycling program in the 1990s Nuclear power has become less of a point of controversy over time and non profits such as Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists and Ducks Unlimited 67 Local housing edit Since Lake Norman s creation housing and real estate in the area have been subject to significant changes In addition to the appeal of Lake Norman and the many activities and jobs associated with it the area lies in close proximity to Charlotte the largest metropolitan area in the Carolinas and the second largest financial center in the United States after New York City Given the appeal of the area and the government sponsored push for suburban living in the 1950s demand for housing rose steeply from the late 1950s to the present 68 Duke Energy which owned about 300 000 acres of surplus land responded to this demand in 1963 as the lake was finally full and open for business 69 Duke owned half of the Lake Norman shoreline and the company made about 2 500 cottage sites available for lease at 120 a year 70 Other private developers began establishing subdivisions like Moonlight Bay Isle of Pines Kiser s Island Bonanza Westport and Island Forest many of which are still residential communities today 70 Many of the homes built on Lake Norman served as secondary homes for people who lived in the surrounding area but the appeal of the area extended beyond Lake Norman s immediate vicinity leading to an increase in the number of permanent residents in towns like Davidson Mooresville and Cornelius 71 Many of these towns around Lake Norman developed comprehensive development plans in order to cope with the rapid growth 72 New Zoning ordinances in Cornelius Davidson and Huntersville called for development that would promote pedestrian traffic and accessibility among the three towns 73 The construction of I 77 in 1975 complicated the development situation in the area as it gave people immediate access to all that Lake Norman offered and the surrounding towns 74 In 1977 a subsidiary of Duke Energy called Crescent Resources began to sell some of Duke s land holdings which allowed further development on the previously leased land 69 Based on what had occurred in the area since the creation of Lake Norman the assumption going forth was that both the economic and population growth would continue creating demand at the lake 74 In 1980 Mecklenburg county voted against a bond program that would preserve the remaining farmland in the area demonstrating the transition from an area previously dominated by agricultural land to one that was far more suburban 75 Today the four counties that make up the Lake Norman area are some of the fastest growing counties in North Carolina From 1990 to 2016 the population of the Lake Norman area has grown by 831 73 Median home values in towns surrounding Lake Norman are all higher than the national average of 250 800 Mooresville 250 800 Davidson 339 400 Cornelius 280 000 Huntersville 304 034 and appreciation rates for homes are some of the highest in North Carolina 76 I 77 edit The construction of I 77 during the formation of Lake Norman created a quick and efficient way to travel through the lake s surrounding cities and towns which include Charlotte Huntersville Davidson and Mooresville Before the creation of the lake a period often referred to as the pre lake days local residents often took a back road to Charlotte 77 Back roads such as Kiser Island Road were able to transport drivers through cotton fields and great pine forests as they made their way to their desired location 77 Other frequently traveled highways before the creation of Lake Norman include N C 115 and U S 21 which were both used to travel from the area to Charlotte 78 26 23 miles of state roads were flooded by the creation of Lake Norman Duke Power now Duke Energy paid North Carolina 3 3 million to relocate 13 3 miles of roadway and to raise 6 4 miles of roadway 77 The creation of the lake and the flooding of several farm to market roads disconnected many previously established communities in Mecklenburg Iredell Lincoln and Catawba counties from one another 79 The newly filled Lake Norman caused bridges like the highway 150 bridge to be rebuilt and new roads to be built entirely for the purpose of reconnecting severed communities 80 U S Highway 21 was partially flooded with the development of Lake Norman but the portion that was not remained the best way to travel from the surrounding lake areas to Charlotte 78 The construction of I 77 created an easy way to get into the city 79 Transportation to and from Charlotte no longer took place on the inconvenient U S 21 but instead I 77 provided a smoother commute into Charlotte The completion of the interstate in 1975 also created an avenue for growth within the surrounding Lake Norman cities shown as housing developments restaurants and stores began to grow within the space 79 With housing developments spreading around the lake an exclusive nature of the area was also formed The current size of the surrounding Lake Norman area has removed the easy commute that I 77 originally created Today I 77 by Lake Norman is known for its traffic rather than its new convenience In response to the heavy traffic of I 77 around Lake Norman the construction of express lanes began in November 2015 The express lanes will improve traffic flow along 26 miles of I 77 by providing more reliable travel time from Brookshire Freeway Exit 11 in Mecklenburg County to N C 150 Exit 36 Iredell County 81 The N C Department of Transportation contracted the project to I 77 Mobility Partners a subsidiary of Spain based contractor Cintra 82 The Department of Transportation states that funding the project privately allows the construction and opening of the project to take place much quicker than if funding was provided by the state 81 Several residents have expressed concerns for the toll lanes as the construction has increased traffic rather than improving it but the Department of Transportation is confident that the express lanes will improve commute time 82 Above the lake edit Airparks edit Lake Norman is home to two airparks Long Island Airpark and Lake Norman Airpark These fly in communities are characterized by an airstrip with the majority of residents owning planes Today this airplane community located on the western side of the lake is thriving with about fifty lots Established a little later in 1999 Long Island Airpark is a 140 acre community with fifty homes located along the northwest side of the lake Each lot has access to either the airstrip or dock for seaplanes 83 Lake Norman Airpark originated in the 1960s by men in an aviation club who acquired permission to build an airstrip along Lake Norman The club s original fifty one members dropped to twenty one in 1971 Later the National Guard built a beacon on the runway In 1990 Tom Wilson Properties helped renovate and fix areas on the property 84 Air balloons edit Located north of Lake Norman is Statesville home to the first hot air balloon flight in North Carolina Bill Meadows and Tracy Barnes conducted this feat propelling Statesville to become a hub for hot air balloon life Barnes established The Balloon Works to manufacture and sell hot air balloons 85 Today The Balloon Works is now Firefly Balloons Factory one of the largest manufacturers of sport and commercial hot air balloons in the world 86 Statesville has celebrated the area s history of hot air balloons through Carolina BalloonFest which is a hot air balloon festival held every year for the past four decades Color abounds as balloons ascend to the skies around sunrise and sunset during the festival The Carolina BalloonFest is the second consecutively longest running hot air balloon festival in the United States 85 Unidentified flying objects edit Unidentified flying objects have been spotted around Lake Norman for decades Twenty have been spotted in the past thirty years particularly near Duke Energy s McGuire Nuclear Station UFO sightings have been more common around nuclear plants George Fawcett a North Carolina resident and UFO enthusiast has kept records of Lake Norman sightings for the UFO Museum and Research Center located in Roswell New Mexico His research shows that North Carolina has reported the fourth largest number UFO sightings People have reported seeing UFOs in the Lake Norman area since 1968 The stories are similar in that there was a strange and rather large aircraft sighted It only made a slight noise and disappeared as quickly as it arrived 87 Under the surface edit On September 5 2013 a submerged airplane was found in the waters of Lake Norman 88 While on a routine dive local firefighters found what they thought to be an airplane citation needed They confirmed the object as an airplane using sonar technology 88 The sunken airplane is located in the deepest part of Lake Norman west of Cornelius North Carolina 88 Near the Mecklenburg Iredell county line the plane is rumored to have been in the lake for over thirty years meaning it would have sunk shortly after the airparks were established and around the time the first recorded UFO sightings occurred The Charlotte Fire Department gave all information about the plane to the Federal Aviation Administration The FAA has issued a statement saying that they are investigating and conducting a search of the aircraft ownership records in an effort to determine the aircraft s last owner 89 When news of the airplane reached the public a local resident immediately called the FAA in belief that the plane is hers She reported that one of her planes sunk when she was conducting flight training in the 1970s They safely landed the plane but the pilot forgot to engage the lock gear and it sank She reports that no one was injured and spent a lot of money searching for it without success 90 Multiple environmentalists have investigated the environmental impacts on the water s health concluding that there is likely no more fuel and that the best way to combat the situation is to let the plane stay Normie the Lake Norman Monster edit There have been various reports of a Lake Norman Monster also known as Normie Sightings were noted as early as 1996 and continue through today While some swear to have seen a large unidentifiable amphibious creature controversy remains over the monster s existence The Lake Norman Monster stories parallel the Scottish legend of the Loch Ness Monster The Lake Norman region has seen continued Scottish influence since the 17th century when the Jacobite conflicts of the 17th and 18th century compelled many lowland Scots to flee to Ireland where they settled in Ulster Hostile relations between the local Irish and these Scotch Irish led some to leave Ireland for America Many of these Scotch Irish Americans ultimately settled in Mecklenburg County 91 Evidence of Scottish influence in the Lake Norman area includes Presbyterian churches built by Scotch Irish between 1745 and 1751 and the Highland Games tradition The Loch Norman Highland Games as well as other games in the Mecklenburg county continue through today In 1994 the Highland Games featured a hot air balloon with a Loch Ness Monster inspired serpent design suggesting that Lake Norman might have a monster of its own 92 In 2002 a website was created to capitalize on the story of the Lake Norman Monster Complete with sighting diaries Normie episodes of America s Monsters and Boogeymen and Normie merchandise the website perpetuates the image of Normie today 93 94 Possible explanations for monster sightings include misidentification of large fish species in the lake including alligator gars catfish or American eels Ghost stories edit Holly Bend Plantation edit The Holly Oak Plantation home was built by Robert Davidson between 1795 1800 The plantation was home to Davidson and his family and many enslaved people who worked the plantation until the Civil War Residents of the house after the Davidson family have reported hearing children playing under the porch and seeing figures hanging from trees possibly enslaved people hung by angry enslavers Many apparitions have been reported in the house including an elderly woman sighted by in an upstairs bedroom by a member of the Charlotte Area Paranormal Society CAPS during an investigation they undertook at the home 95 Hopewell Presbyterian Church edit There is a story that the cemetery of Hopewell Presbyterian Church is the home of the ghost of General William Lee Davidson General Davidson was tasked with stopping the advance of British General Cornwallis at the end of the Revolutionary War On February 1 1781 General Davidson was the first casualty in the Battle of Cowans Ford just minutes away from where the cemetery now stands The British troops stripped the General of his clothes and left him on the grounds That night General Davidson s men spirited his body to Hopewell Presbyterian and had a hasty burial On February 1 every year since his death the ghost of General Davidson is said to emerge from his grave and ride once again into battle before disappearing into the mist Reverend Jeff Lowrance the pastor at Hopewell says that every year people come in hopes of catching a sight of the ghostly visage 95 Latta Plantation edit The Latta Plantation House was built in 1800 by James Latta an Irish immigrant who rose to become one of the most prominent men in the area He had a large family all of whom were outlived by their parents The current caretakes of the Latta house have reported a variety of unexplained sounds and events encountered during their time taking care of the home Betty Pierce a volunteer says that whenever she was in the house alone and especially when she was making repairs or modifications she has heard footsteps in empty hallways and seen locked doors open of their own accord She believes that these unexplained phenomena are the spirit of James Latta checking up on this house and making sure that no changes too large are made 96 Oaklawn edit In Huntersville there stands another plantation house Oaklawn which is purportedly the home of three spirits Mrs Carol Sandoff the current owner of Oaklawn bought the house in 1994 The most active ghost is that of a nameless child most likely the child of the second owner Mr John Moore who appears as a shadowy child sized figure in the upstairs bedroom He is said to have died of scarlet fever He is said to run through the home crying sometimes in the night or to leave hand prints on fogged mirrors and glass 96 Recreation edit nbsp Beach along Lake Norman in Ramsey Creek Park in CorneliusDuke Power Company and recreation edit Ever since Duke Power Company constructed Lake Norman the company has played an integral part in fostering recreation on the lake In 1964 the year the lake was finished Duke Power Company leased parcels of land to people for 120 a year At the time land use around the lake was limited to hikers and owners of small weekend cabins However popularity began to grow and land parcel lease prices jumped to 2 500 just five years later 97 With the construction of Interstate 77 in the mid 1970s Lake Norman became highly accessible to residents of Charlotte causing an influx of homes restaurants golf courses and various recreational facilities to flood the region The Lake Norman area continued into the 2010s and Duke Power Company continued to play a key role The company has constructed areas for public fishing as well as boating access around the lake and Duke Power Company also offers free tours of their facilities on the lake 97 In December 2017 Duke Power Company received approval to create an estimated 89 recreation sites on the lake The project is estimated to take about 20 years and facilities are projected to include more fishing grounds and boat ramps as well as campgrounds parking lots and picnic areas 98 Hunting and fishing edit Fish on Lake Norman consists primarily of Striped Bass Largemouth Bass Catfish and Bluegill Each year anglers are drawn to the area for fishing tournaments hosted by Fishing League Worldwide Fishing on Lake Norman has also made a substantial contribution to the local economy as local guide services and tackle shops rely on this form of recreation 99 All of the fish in Lake Norman were introduced by humans as the lake was man made Striped bass introduced for fishing purposes and Blue Catfish introduced to control Shad populations were among the largest species of fish introduced to the lake Flathead Catfish were later introduced illegally and has unclear origins but unlike Blue Catfish the Flathead is predatory and feeds on other fish 99 By the 1990s fish populations plummeted as a result of rising water temperatures This continued into the 2000s to the point where Striped Bass were pushed to the brink of extinction Eventually Spotted Bass were introduced as they can exist in warmer waters Spotted and Hybrid Striped Spotted Bass are the main sport fish in the lake today although Catfish is the largest fish family in Lake Norman Though not attracting as many people as fishing the autumn waterfowl season attracts hunters to the area While birds are plentiful on the lake Lake Norman has lost popularity in the hunting community due to development around the lake as well as more strict regulations regarding hunting and firearms in North Carolina 100 Lake Norman State Park edit Duke Power Company donated 1 328 acres of land that eventually became Lake Norman State Park in September 1962 Since then the park has been a hub for recreation on the lake Facilities include 30 5 miles of mountain biking hiking running trails by the name of the Itusi Trail the Lakeshore Trail at 5 miles long dedicated to hiking and running only a 125 yard beach for swimming that is open April 1 October 31 and dock facility that is utilized for both boating and fishing 101 Use of the docks and boat ramps is free but a fee of 5 is required for use of the swimming beach Other facilities include a seasonal campground with 32 sites and kitchen facilities as well as restrooms and a fireplace available for rent making the Park an accessible and reasonable option for activities and events 102 Visitors to Lake Norman increased by nearly 50 000 between 2016 and 2017 with 962 000 visitors to the park in 2017 citation needed The park is one of 12 state parks to have more than 750 000 visitors in a year there are 39 state parks in the North Carolina According to park Superintendent Greg Schneider people often visit the park in an attempt to reconnect with nature 103 Lake Norman State Park holds a rich ecological history Throughout the 18th 19th and part of the 20th century the land surrounding Lake Norman consisted of cultivated fields It was not until the mid 20th century that forests mostly consisting of Pine trees began to form through intentional planting as well as natural expansion 104 However an infestation of Southern Pine Beetles decimated the Pine forests leaving hardwoods such as Hickory and Dogwood trees to be the main presence Today Pine trees can only be found in small patches throughout the park The park is home to vast amounts of other wildlife as well including over 35 species of mammals and a variety of amphibians Park Superintendent Gregory Schneider regards the mammals in the park in the park as abundant and active stating White tailed deer and eastern grey squirrel are readily visible from the park roads and Coyotes can often be heard yipping and howling during the evening hours 105 Frogs and turtles can be seen regularly as they inhabit the wetlands along the park s shores There are also a variety of snakes including the venomous Copperhead living near the shores but they often go unseen The park s birdlife consists of both residential and migratory birds such as geese and mallards Red tailed hawks as well as wild turkey also reside in and around the park 105 Davidson College Lake Campus edit Planning for Lake Campus began in 1959 after Duke Energy announced that it would donate 110 acres of lake front property to Davidson College The company agreed to donate the land in 1952 and by 1953 the process of building the actual campus began Parts of frolics a Davidson Spring time tradition were held at lake campus during the 1960s We have an example of an announcement from 1964 of a regatta held during the fall for the Pledge classes of each fraternity Each fraternity was allowed to compete provided that they could supply a team of three pledges and construct a raft with a total cost of under 5 Also during the 1960s there was a serious effort to move Patterson court the center of Greek life at Davidson college to the Lake Campus Through copies of Lake Campus rules from different decades we can mark their progress in becoming more strict over time for example In 1975 there were no rules concerning the consumption of alcohol on the lake campus At this time guns were not entirely prohibited as students could bring shotguns to the grounds provided that it was waterfowl season 106 nbsp Lake Norman Peninsula Yacht ClubCounties editCatawba County Iredell County Lincoln County Mecklenburg CountySettlements editCornelius Davidson Denver Governors Island Huntersville Lake Norman of Catawba Lake Norman of Iredell Mooresville Sherrills Ford Terrell Troutman WestportReferences edit Lake Norman State Park Wildernet com Retrieved 2007 09 05 Service US Department of Commerce NOAA National Weather National Weather Service weather gov Retrieved 2018 04 23 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Lake Norman Monthly Weather The Weather Channel Retrieved April 11 2018 Definition of CLAY SOIL www merriam webster com Retrieved 2018 04 23 The Belts of North Carolina Geosmin 2009 11 04 Retrieved 2018 04 23 a b c Catawba River Basin Plan Chain of Lake Joe A Edmisten to Karla Hammer September 4 1990 Yarbrough Williams amp Associates Inc Davidson College Property Preliminary Investigation of DM Davidson Concord Road September 17 1990 Yarbrough Williams amp Associates Inc to Jim Leumas March 19 1992 Lake Norman property owner must replant trees he cleared charlotteobserver Retrieved 2018 04 23 a b Lake Norman property owner must replant trees he cleared charlotteobserver Retrieved 2018 04 23 Radiation Confirmed in Ground Water Around Lake Norman 8 March 2018 a b DWQ Intensive Survey Unit Lake and Reservoir Assessments Catawba River Basin June 23 2008 Lake Norman Water Quality Update Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce last modified April 9 2018 N C DEQ Proposes Improvements but Allows a Delay of Toxic Pollution Limits in Permit for Duke Energy s Marshall Coal Ash Site in Lake Norman Sierra Club last modified January 12 2018 a b c d e f g h Russell Barbara May 2004 One Lake a Multitude of Interests Lake Norman Magazine a b Catawba River Mountain Island Lake Audubon 2016 09 12 Retrieved 2018 04 23 What Kind of Fish Live in Lake Norman TripSavvy Archived from the original on 2018 04 23 Retrieved 2018 04 23 Price Capt Craig An update on the lake s hybrid striped bass Lake Norman Publications Archived from the original on 2018 12 13 Retrieved 2018 04 23 Fishing on Lake Norman libraries davidson edu Retrieved 2018 04 23 Ecology NC State Parks www ncparks gov Archived from the original on April 22 2018 Retrieved April 23 2018 Birds Waterfowl on Lake Norman NC photos and information bestoflakenorman com Retrieved 2018 04 23 Catawba County Register of Deeds Catawba County GIS Parcel IDs 462802750614 amp 461604739313 FAQ Lake Norman Marine Commission Retrieved 2018 04 23 Rudisill Richard April 2000 Exploring the Shore On the Water with Duke Energy Lake Norman Magazine Center National Invasive Species Information Invasive Species Aquatic Species Hydrilla Hydrilla verticillata www invasivespeciesinfo gov Retrieved 2018 04 23 a b Dreaded weed known as serial killer of eagles returns to part of Lake Norman charlotteobserver Retrieved 2018 04 23 Osborne Jessica Wildlife conservationists build heron platforms osprey nests for Lake Norman Mooresville Tribune Retrieved 2018 04 23 LNWC Inland Sea Chronicle Fall 2009 Newsletter PDF LNWC 2009 Retrieved 2018 04 23 Early History Catawba Indian Nation catawbaindian net Archived from the original on 2018 04 24 Retrieved 2018 04 23 An Accurate Map of North and South Carolina With Their Indian Frontiers Shewing in a distinct manner all the Mountains Rivers Swamps Marshes Bays Creeks Harbours Sandbanks and Soundings on the Coasts with The Roads and Indian Paths as well as The Boundary or Provincial Lines The Several Townships and other divisions of the Land in Both the Provinces the whole from Actual Surveys by Henry Mouzon and Others North Carolina Maps dc lib unc edu Retrieved 2018 04 23 a b Native Americans in North Carolina docsouth unc edu Retrieved 2018 04 23 Timothy Fenlon 2007 A struggle for survival and recognition the catawba nation 1840 1860 MA thesis Clemson University Treaty of Nations Ford between the Catawba and the State of South Carolina 1840 digital scetv org Archived from the original on 2018 04 24 Retrieved 2018 04 23 Catawba Pottery Catawba Indian Nation catawbaindian net Archived from the original on 2018 04 11 Retrieved 2018 04 23 Harris Ron Indian Arrowheads of the Piedmont Carolina Country Catawba Project Archaeology archaeology sites unc edu Retrieved 2018 04 23 a b Manganiello Christopher 2015 Southern Water Southern Power How the Politics of Cheap Energy and Water Scarcity Shaped a Region The University of North Carolina Press a b Duke Power Company NCpedia www ncpedia org Retrieved 2018 04 23 a b c d e Down in Iredell Statesville Record and Landmark June 20 1959 a b c Oberdorfer Don August 25 1957 Duke Plans a King Size Lake Charlotte Observer a b Russell Barbara March 2004 The Lake that Changed the Landscape Lake Norman Magazine The History of Lake Norman Our State Magazine Our State Magazine 2013 09 05 Retrieved 2018 04 23 Jacobs Cindy 2007 Mooresville Arcadia Publishing ISBN 9780738544021 Under Lake Norman Map Davidson College Archives amp Special Collections libraries davidson edu Retrieved 2018 04 23 a b Ashcraft Carol Faye 2004 Secrets of the Lake Lake Norman Magazine Under Lake Norman Davidson College Archives amp Special Collections libraries davidson edu Retrieved 2018 04 23 a b Cocke Norman Atwater NCpedia www ncpedia org Retrieved 2023 11 13 Cocke Norman Atwater NCpedia www ncpedia org Retrieved 2023 11 13 Campbell Donna 2013 09 05 The History of Lake Norman Our State Retrieved 2023 11 13 Davidson College Lake Campus Under Lake Norman Davidson College Archives amp Special Collections libraries davidson edu Retrieved 2018 04 23 Longsam toonopedia com dead link August 4 1957 Charlotte Observer published as The Charlotte Observer Charlotte North Carolina Volume 80 page 25 a b Jacobs Cindy Around Lake Norman Arcadia Pub 2008 The History of Lake Norman Our State Magazine Our State Magazine 2013 09 05 Retrieved 2018 04 23 Duke Power Cowans Ford Hydroelectric Station and Lake Norman Np Nd Brotherton Marvin Lake Norman Piedmont History Davidson 1993 Warren Publishing 82 85 Stowell Don Dam Work Started At Cowan s Ford Site Newsclipping Cowan s Ford Dam Davidsoniana file Davidson College Archives Davidson NC Duke Power Cowans Ford Hydroelectric Station and Lake Norman State Fishing and Boating Regulations Lake Norman 1959 1999 Davidsoniana file Davidson College Archives Davidson NC Fishing on Lake Norman Davidson College Lake Norman Project March 25 2014 State Fishing and Boating Regulations Lake Norman 1959 1999 Davidsoniana file Jacobs Cindy Bold Plan Took Shape in 1957 Hickory Record June 18 2013 Lake Norman Commission Lake Norman 1959 1999 Davidsoniana file Davidson College Archives Davidson NC Baker Dana Discovery of Herons Puts Island off Limits Newsclipping Lake Norman 1959 1999 Davidsoniana file Davidson College Archives Davidson NC Cowans Ford Newsclipping January 25 1973 Cowan s Ford Dam Davidsoniana file Davidson College Archives Davidson NC Bohannan Chai Lu Environmental Action Around Lake Norman Davidson College Lake Norman Project March 25 2014 Nicolaides and Wiese Suburbanization in the United States after 1945 a b Mike Czeczot North Carolina s Lake Norman Real Estate History and Facts a b Cindy Jacobs Bold Plan Took Shape in 1957 Donna Campbell The History of Lake Norman Cornelius N C and Davidson N C Population and Economy Study a b Melinda Johnston Boom Growth Continues around the Lake a b Merle D Kellerhals Jr 220 Acre Dream Becoming a Reality Jeff Michael Mecklenburg County An Introduction Inc Zillow United States Home Prices amp Home Values Zillow Zillow Retrieved 2018 04 23 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a last has generic name help a b c Lake Trivia Quiz Maclenburg Neighbors June 26 1988 a b Hampton Lacey Lake Norman powered area changes Lake Norman Publications Archived from the original on 2018 11 03 Retrieved 2018 04 23 a b c A History of Lake Norman Retrieved 2018 04 23 Old Highway 150 Bridge Under Lake Norman Davidson College Archives amp Special Collections libraries davidson edu Retrieved 2018 04 23 a b webmaster NCDOT I 77 Express Lanes www ncdot gov Retrieved 2018 04 23 a b When will the I 77 toll lanes open charlotteobserver Retrieved 2018 04 23 Boykin Just Plane Fun Lake Norman Airpark Lake Norman Airpark a b History Gallery Carolina BalloonFest Retrieved 2018 04 23 WRAL Statesville is home to legendary balloon builders Out and About at WRAL com WRAL com Retrieved 2018 04 23 Butler B J October 11 2004 Out of This World UFO Expert Tracks Reports Lake Norman Magazine a b c Underwater Airplane Davidson College Archives amp Special Collections libraries davidson edu Retrieved 2018 04 23 ABC News ABC News Retrieved 2018 04 23 EndPlay 2013 09 21 Woman hopes plane at bottom of Lake Norman is hers WSOC Retrieved 2018 04 23 Brotherton Marvin K Early Scotch Irish Settlers in Lincoln County in Lake Norman Piedmont History 74 75 Davidson Warren Publishing 1993 Lake Norman Magazine Our Mystery of the Deep Monster Has Supporters Detractors Lake Norman Magazine January 2008 Davidson College Archives Archived from the original on 28 March 2018 Normie the Lake Norman Monster n d http www lakenormanmonster com The Lake Norman Monster March 23 2017 http www candidslice com decades after disappearing history lurks under lake norman 10 a b Hampton Lacey Local people share ghostly tales Lake Norman Publications Retrieved 2018 04 23 permanent dead link a b Ghost Stories of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County by Stephanie Burt Williams a b North Carolina s Lake Norman Real Estate History and Facts Southeast Discovery www southeastdiscovery com Retrieved 2018 04 23 Duke Energy gets federal OK for Catawba River recreational improvements near Charlotte charlotteobserver Retrieved 2018 04 23 a b A guide to fishing on Lake Norman charlotteobserver Retrieved 2018 04 23 North Carolina Hunting Laws www avvo com Retrieved 2018 04 23 History NC State Parks www ncparks gov Archived from the original on 2018 04 22 Retrieved 2018 04 23 Lake Norman State Park NC State Parks www ncparks gov Retrieved 2018 04 23 Dale Gowing Lake Norman State Park s popularity keeps rising Statesville com Retrieved 2018 04 23 Lake Norman State Park NCpedia www ncpedia org Retrieved 2018 04 23 a b Take a Dip at North Carolina s Lake Norman State Park Travel Leisure Retrieved 2018 04 23 Gorsen Devin Lake Campus Timeline Davidson College Lake Norman Project 27 Feb 2014 libraries davidson edu uln rags life External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lake Norman International Jet Sport Boats Association Website Lake Norman Yacht Club Website Lake Norman Bathymetric Map Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lake Norman amp oldid 1206224263, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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