Boat ramps to close on Lake Wylie because of drought

Duke Energy is closing boat ramps on Lake Wylie as lingering drought conditions lower water levels.

Two of four ramps have been closed at Allison Creek Access Area. As of Tuesday afternoon, all other ramps remained open.

“To ensure the safety of boaters and protect property, some boat ramps will be closed due to these declining lake levels,” Duke Energy spokeswoman Jennifer Jabon said Tuesday morning.

Ramps at Copperhead Island in Mecklenburg County and Ebenezer Park near Rock Hill in York County are managed by those counties, while the rest fall under Duke management.

As of Tuesday morning, staff at Ebenezer Park still had their ramps open, though they are keeping an eye on conditions, noticing lower water levels of late. The website for Copperhead Island lists its four ramps as open.

Tuesday marked the 16th straight day where Lake Wylie sat more than 4 feet below full pond. Under normal conditions, 3 feet below is the target and 6 feet below is the minimum level before the shallowest water intakes or other environmental factors are threatened.

Joe Stowe, executive director of the Lake Wylie Marine Commission, learned about the closings Monday night. Stowe had received calls about low water for weeks and had warned residents to be mindful of a lower lake level. Still, Stowe didn’t expect ramp closings this soon.

“I didn’t realize we were to the point of closing boat ramps,” Stowe said.

On Tuesday afternoon, Duke asked people who use Catawba River lakes for irrigation to limit that use to Tuesdays and Saturdays. The restriction is voluntary.

“Despite recent rainfall, the region continues to experience dry conditions,” said Joe Hall, lake services director.

For boaters who use the open ramps, or who use docks or marinas on the water, Duke Energy urges caution.

“Boaters and other recreational users are encouraged to exercise caution and examine their surroundings for potential hazards when on area lakes and waterways,” said John Crutchfield, public safety and recreation director. “Additional hazards can be present just below the water’s surface due to the lower lake levels.”

Boat ramps last closed during the record 2007 drought. Fishing tournaments, charity and community events were canceled or postponed then. Ramps closed over a period of several months as conditioned worsened. Some events still launched out of the Nivens Creek ramp near Fort Mill – by fall of 2007 the only ramp still open on Lake Wylie.

During a 2002 drought, all ramps closed.

This story was originally published July 28, 2015 at 10:44 AM with the headline "Boat ramps to close on Lake Wylie because of drought."