The Catawba River headwaters could rise higher than they ever have before, due to heavy rain from Helene .
Duke Energy , the company that manages lakes along the river for power production, put out a public alert saying Lake James could rise 10 feet above its full pond level by Friday afternoon. Duke typically holds its lakes a few feet below full pond, or the point where they start spilling. A little after 8 a.m., Lake James was almost five feet above full pond and spilling, according to Duke.
Another five feet would be historic for the North Carolina mountain lake where the Catawba begins.
“This would be the highest lake level ever reached at Lake James,” the public lake notice says. “Lake residents should prepare for flooding conditions and closely monitor lake levels.”
It isn’t just Lake James.
Six of the 11 lakes on the Catawba River chain were above their full pond levels Friday morning. Five of them were three feet or more above full pond. Every lake except Fishing Creek Reservoir in South Carolina was above its target level, as Duke moves water through the system to make way for more rain from Helene.
Duke Energy uses its largest lakes to help regulate water through the system. Lakes Norman and Wylie, along with Lake James, can help buffer water flows. Lake Wylie was two feet above its target level but almost a foot below full pond Friday morning. Lake Norman, the largest lake in the system, still had about two feet before it reached full pond.
“Lake Wylie is higher than normal due to recent rainfall,” says a public notice from Duke Energy. “Hydro Operations is moving water through the river system and a spillway gate is open.”
There are similar messages for every lake on the system. On the southern end of the chain, Lake Wateree is a foot above full pond and rising. It’s spilling and is expected to be five feet above full pond by Friday night, according to a public notice from Duke Energy for that lake.
“All available hydro units are online and the gates are open at the dam,” the notice says. “Because rainfall amounts can be unpredictable, it is difficult to estimate peak lake levels until the rain event concludes. Lake residents should prepare for flooding conditions and closely monitor lake levels. We urge people living along lakes and rivers or in flood-prone areas to use caution, follow directions from emergency managers, pay close attention to changing weather and streamflow conditions and stay informed. High water conditions can also create navigational hazards. Updates will be provided as conditions change.”
Before noon, Duke Energy issued new notices for area lakes. Mountain Island Lake, one of Charlotte’s two drinking water sources along with Lake Norman, is expected to be 10 feet above full pond on Saturday morning. That would be its highest ever level.
Lake Rhodhiss and Lookout Shoals Lake both are expected to reach 10 feet higher than their full ponds. That’s near a record for Lake Rhodhiss but a few feet below the record for Lookout Shoals Lake, dating back to at least 1929.
The western parts of the Carolinas were saturated with heavy rains unrelated to Helene, then the storm brought more rain than initially forecast, Duke Energy storm director Jason Hollifield said in a release Thursday evening.
“We strongly urge those living along lakes, rivers and in flood-prone areas to exercise caution, stay informed and remain alert to changing weather and streamflow conditions,” Hollifield said. “Residents should follow the instructions of state and county emergency management and keep an eye on emergency notifications sent to their mobile phones.”
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