Lake Wylie
Encyclopedia
Lake Wylie is a reservoir
, or man-made lake in the U.S. state
s of both South Carolina
and North Carolina
. The lake has a surface area of 13400 acres (54 km²) (21sq mi) and features 325 miles (523 km) of shore line.
in 1904. This dam
impounded the Catawba River
and created Lake Catawba, which was utilized to create hydro-electric power. In 1905 the Catawba Power Company became part of the Southern Power Company.
In 1924 the Southern Power Company raised the level of the dam and a built a new Catawba Hydroelectric Station to replace the original. This new facility opened in August 1925, increasing the surface area of Lake Catawba from 668 acres (2.7 km²) to 13400 acres (54 km²). The Southern Power Company was merged with Duke Power Company in 1927.
In October 1960 the power station was renamed the Wylie Hydroelectric Station and the lake was renamed Lake Wylie, both in honor of Dr. Walker Gill Wylie, one of the founders of the original Catawba Power Company that had created the lake and become Duke Power.
and North Carolina
borders makes it a common recreational destination for residents of nearby cities including Charlotte
, Fort Mill, and Rock Hill
. Duke Power manages six public boat access areas on the lake. There are also two towns that are located on Lake Wylie including, Tega Cay
and Lake Wylie
Lake Wylie is one of eleven lakes on the Catawba River
and is the second oldest lake in the Catawba River Chain which is a chain of lakes that's operated as a system, with water being moved around each lake on the chain system through Duke Power. The lake has a surface area of approximately 13443 acres (54 km²) with 325 miles (523 km) of shoreline, and stretches from the Mountain Island Dam, south of Mountain Island Lake
in North Carolina to the Wylie Dam on the south end of the lake. The average depth of the lake is just over twenty feet.
The Catawba Nuclear Generating Station is located on the south-western part of the lake, and draws its cooling water from the lake. Allen Steam Station located on the northern part of the lake (west of Charlotte) also draws its cooling water from the lake.
s are sighted in Lake Wylie every few years. In 1999 Catawba Nuclear Station
employees spotted a 5–7 foot alligator in a nearby lagoon and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources officers captured an eight-foot alligator in August 2002. More recently, three small three-foot gators were spotted around the Elks Park Campground in 2009. Wildlife experts generally agree that the likeliest cause of alligators in Lake Wylie is illegal dumping.
DNR
officials say they are not worried about the catch, and have their plan to exterminate the fish if it becomes a problem.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
, or man-made lake in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
s of both South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
and North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. The lake has a surface area of 13400 acres (54 km²) (21sq mi) and features 325 miles (523 km) of shore line.
History
The man-made lake was first formed when the Catawba Power Company built the Catawba Dam and Power Plant near India Hook, South CarolinaIndia Hook, South Carolina
India Hook is a census-designated place in York County, South Carolina, United States and is considered to be a suburb of the city of Rock Hill and one of the three communities on Lake Wylie.The population was 2,051 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
in 1904. This dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
impounded the Catawba River
Catawba River
The Catawba River is a tributary of the Wateree River in the U.S. states of North Carolina and South Carolina. The river is approximately 220 miles long...
and created Lake Catawba, which was utilized to create hydro-electric power. In 1905 the Catawba Power Company became part of the Southern Power Company.
In 1924 the Southern Power Company raised the level of the dam and a built a new Catawba Hydroelectric Station to replace the original. This new facility opened in August 1925, increasing the surface area of Lake Catawba from 668 acres (2.7 km²) to 13400 acres (54 km²). The Southern Power Company was merged with Duke Power Company in 1927.
In October 1960 the power station was renamed the Wylie Hydroelectric Station and the lake was renamed Lake Wylie, both in honor of Dr. Walker Gill Wylie, one of the founders of the original Catawba Power Company that had created the lake and become Duke Power.
Other information
Lake Wylie's location on both the South CarolinaSouth Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
and North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
borders makes it a common recreational destination for residents of nearby cities including Charlotte
CHARLOTTE
- CHARLOTTE :CHARLOTTE is an American blues-based hard rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1986. Currently, they are signed to indie label, Eonian Records, under which they released their debut cd, Medusa Groove, in 2010. Notable Charlotte songs include 'Siren', 'Little Devils',...
, Fort Mill, and Rock Hill
Rock Hill
Rock Hill is the name of some places in the United States of America:* Rock Hill, South Carolina, fourth largest city in South Carolina, population 70,000* Rock Hill, Missouri, small city in Missouri, population 5,000...
. Duke Power manages six public boat access areas on the lake. There are also two towns that are located on Lake Wylie including, Tega Cay
Tega Cay, South Carolina
Tega Cay is a planned city in York County, South Carolina, United States. The city is a suburb of Charlotte, North Carolina and Rock Hill, South Carolina. The population was 4,044 at the 2000 census....
and Lake Wylie
Lake Wylie, South Carolina
Lake Wylie is a census-designated place in York County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 3,061 at the 2000 census. Lake Wylie is located on a peninsula along the shore of Lake Wylie, a reservoir that was named for Dr. W...
Lake Wylie is one of eleven lakes on the Catawba River
Catawba River
The Catawba River is a tributary of the Wateree River in the U.S. states of North Carolina and South Carolina. The river is approximately 220 miles long...
and is the second oldest lake in the Catawba River Chain which is a chain of lakes that's operated as a system, with water being moved around each lake on the chain system through Duke Power. The lake has a surface area of approximately 13443 acres (54 km²) with 325 miles (523 km) of shoreline, and stretches from the Mountain Island Dam, south of Mountain Island Lake
Mountain Island Lake
Mountain Island Lake was created in 1924 to coincide with the building of Mountain Island Hydroelectric Station. It is named after the mountain which appears as an island in the lake. Full pond elevation is approximately...
in North Carolina to the Wylie Dam on the south end of the lake. The average depth of the lake is just over twenty feet.
The Catawba Nuclear Generating Station is located on the south-western part of the lake, and draws its cooling water from the lake. Allen Steam Station located on the northern part of the lake (west of Charlotte) also draws its cooling water from the lake.
Alligators
Although they are not native to the area, alligatorAlligator
An alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. There are two extant alligator species: the American alligator and the Chinese alligator ....
s are sighted in Lake Wylie every few years. In 1999 Catawba Nuclear Station
Catawba Nuclear Station
The Catawba Nuclear Station is a nuclear power plant located on a peninsula, called "Concord Peninsula", that reaches out into Lake Wylie, in York, South Carolina...
employees spotted a 5–7 foot alligator in a nearby lagoon and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources officers captured an eight-foot alligator in August 2002. More recently, three small three-foot gators were spotted around the Elks Park Campground in 2009. Wildlife experts generally agree that the likeliest cause of alligators in Lake Wylie is illegal dumping.
Snakehead Fish
In August 2009, a Snakehead (fish) was caught in the Paw Creek arm of Lake Wylie. South CarolinaSouth Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
DNR
DNR
DNR may refer to:* Do not resuscitate, a medical instruction** "DNR" , an episode from the American television program House** The final episode of Becker , an American sitcom** "D.N.R...
officials say they are not worried about the catch, and have their plan to exterminate the fish if it becomes a problem.
See also
- Lake Wylie, South CarolinaLake Wylie, South CarolinaLake Wylie is a census-designated place in York County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 3,061 at the 2000 census. Lake Wylie is located on a peninsula along the shore of Lake Wylie, a reservoir that was named for Dr. W...
- Catawba Nuclear Generating Station
- Buster Boyd BridgeBuster Boyd BridgeThe Buster Boyd Bridge is a four-lane automobile bridge spanning Lake Wylie between Steele Creek in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina and the town of Lake Wylie in York County, South Carolina....