N.C. drought status lifted, ramps re-open on Lake Wylie

Thanks to the recent rain, North Carolina’s drought advisories ended Oct. 5 and Lake Wylie’s rising waters meant boat ramps re-opened.

Lisa Parrish with Duke Energy said Oct. 5 all boat ramps managed by the company were to begin opening. Those ramps are Buster Boyd and Allison Creek in York County, and South Point in Belmont, N.C.

“By Wednesday (Oct. 7), we expect all boat ramps to be available,” she said.

The York County manager’s office said rainfall during the beginning of October “has greatly improved Lake Wylie’s conditions, so much so, that Ebenezer Park has safely re-opened their boat ramps for York County citizens and guests.”

Kevin Metcalf, McDowell Nature Preserve manager, said two of the four ramps at Copperhead Island opened that morning. Those ramps are managed by Mecklenburg County.

During the drought, the parks took advantage of low water levels to repair two ramp. He expects them to open this weekend.

Fewer than three weeks ago, ramps at those access areas were closed because of due to low water levels more than 6 feet below full pond elevation.

Lake levels Oct. 5 sat only 6 inches from the target level, and 2.5 feet higher than one week ago. By Oct. 9, lake levels were 1 inch above the target level.

The North Carolina Drought Advisory Council met weekly monitoring drought stages. Gaston and Mecklenburg counties each were listed at times in Stage 2 severe drought. Residents and businesses have been asked to eliminate nonessential uses of water. On Oct. 5, ncdrought.org/ showed no drought advisories issued throughout the state.

The Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Council announced in July the region was in Stage 1 of the drought protocol. Residents were asked to conserve water usage. By late July, York County closed the swimming area at Ebenezer Park.

Boat ramp closings started in early August at Allison Creek. By mid-September, the only access open was Nivens Creek in Fort Mill.

The Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation’s annual Riversweep scheduled Oct. 3 was canceled for the first time in its 13-year history because of limited lake access and safety concerns for volunteers.

This story was originally published October 5, 2015 at 10:34 AM with the headline "N.C. drought status lifted, ramps re-open on Lake Wylie."