Watch that dive: Lake is low!

Last Updated: August 9, 2015By NewsroomTags: Drought, lake norman, Police

Low lake levels prompt police warning

Aug. 9. By Dave Vieser. The lowest lake levels on Lake Norman since the 2008 drought have prompted officials to close some launching ramps and issue warnings to boaters. As of Friday Aug. 7, the lake level was 95.5, compared with a target level of 98. This level is almost 4.5 feet below full pond. Full pond elevation is equivalent to the top of the flood gates at gated impoundments and the top of the open spillway at lakes that do not have gates.

According to Duke Energy spokeswoman Jennifer Jabon, the low levels have placed Lake Norman in a stage one drought status, meaning voluntary water conservation measures are being strongly suggested. As a result of the low levels, Mecklenburg County has closed two of the six boating ramps at Blythe Landing.

Meanwhile, the Cornelius Police Lake Patrol Division has issued a warning to all boaters and personal watercraft operators on Lake Norman to be especially cautious. Low lake levels create dangerous conditions as previously underwater obstacles appear on or near the surface, according to lake patrol. “We recommend the use of a GPS or depth finder to help with navigating the lake safely. Extreme caution is advised to watch out for rocks and stumps that are now too close to the surface.”

One Comment

Rick Ushing August 10, 2015 at 3:15 pm - Reply

It is crazy that the ramps are closed bc boaters with 30 ft boats back their trailers in so deep they fall off the concrete ramps causing no access to everyone else that has low riding trailers, shorter boats and jet skis. The ramps are clearly marked that the ramps end at the docks. Just bc they have no clue how to use the facilities everyone else is restricted to the long sailboat ramps too! Lines of boats being 10-15 rigs deep with 99% of the trailers being capable of using the closed ramps makes no sense. Keep the larger boats out of Blyth Landing if they can’t use the facilities correctly. While they are at it.. let’s keep the boat rental companies off the ramps and docks too. Anyone else sick of being impacted by them while they abandon their rigs on the ramps for 30-45 min while they prep their boats for their clients.. at the staging docks while only 2 ramps are open.. or using 90% of the stalls designed to support launching your boat while they run their business from them so you can’t use them?? How about when you try to use the trash cans after a day of boating but you can’t b/c they filled them up with their rental business trash?