Boat access reopens as lake levels rise

By John Marks - John Marks

LAKE WYLIE -- Buster Boyd is back in business.

Thanks to the recent rainfall and rising lake levels, Duke Energy officials decided last week to move concrete barriers from two of the ramps at Buster Boyd access area.

"We're hopeful that we won't have to close them again," said Marilyn Lineberger, spokeswoman for Duke Energy, which manages the lake.

In the fall, Duke closed ramps along Lake Wylie, leaving only the Nivens Creek access open on Lake Wylie. None of the other ramps on Wylie have reopened.

"Clearly, the rain we're getting is good news," Lineberger said. "Once it's safe, we'll open them up just as fast as we can."

Ramps will be considered for reopening on an individual basis, Lineberger said, depending on the depths of ramps and water levels.

"It has to be in a safe position for the public to launch their boats," she said.

Duke makes the decision to open or close Lake Wylie ramps at Buster Boyd, Nivens and Allison Creek access areas in York County, along with South Point access area in Gaston County.

Rock Hill makes its own decision as to the opening of Ebenezer access , as does Mecklenburg County, which leases Copperhead Island access.

"If we find out that the water level is safe, and especially if it's going to be holding steady at a safe level, we won't hesitate to open the ramps," said Tony Huggins, park superintendent at Ebenezer. "The concern is, what happens if next week it's back down again?"

When safe water levels stabilize, the park could move quickly to contact county management and have the ramps open, he said.

"You'd probably aggravate more people by opening and closing and opening and closing than you would if it's either always open or always closed," Huggins said. "That's what we want to guard against."

Allison Creek access is a good indicator for when Ebenezer could open, Huggins said.

Lake levels up 2 feet

On Monday, Lake Wylie's water level was 94.8 feet -- more than 2 feet above what it was last fall as it neared critical drought levels -- as it inches toward its target of 97. Full pond is 100 feet. Lake levels are a relative measure, not the actual depth of the lake.

For more on lake levels, visit www.duke-energy.com/lakes/levels.asp.