Lake Wylie Lake Levels
January 29, 2009 by lakewylie
Filed under Everything Lake Wylie, LW Fishing
Once known as Lake Catawba, Lake Wylie has seen a great deal of growth over the years. It is a man-made lake that was created when the Catawba Power Company built its dam and power plant near India Hook, South Carolina in 1904. Originally the lake had roughly 668 acres of surface area, but in 1905 Southern Power Company absorbed the Catawba Power Company who then raised Lake Wylie lake level in 1924-1925. The new surface area of the lake was (and still is today) roughly 13,000 acres. Eventually Southern Power came to be known as Duke Energy. Today Duke Energy continues to maintain public boat access areas. It also issues permits for private docks and marinas in the area.
Lake Wylie is surrounded by approximately 325 miles of shoreline part of which is in North Carolina and part in South Carolina. At its deepest points Lake Wylie lake levels are roughly 94 feet deep. It’s average depth however is roughly twenty feet deep. The lake runs from Mountain Island Dam in the northern end of the lake to Wylie Dam at the southern end. Since 2007 a large portion of the Southern states have been suffering from drought condition however Lake Wylie was able to maintain normal, and sometimes even above-normal levels, throughout this period.
The Buster Boyd Bridge crosses Lake Wylie from the Lake Wylie community into Charlotte, North Carolina. It allows Highway 49 to cross from South Carolina into North Carolina. It is a four lane bridge which also features pedestrian lanes on each side. Interestingly enough, this bridge is the only one in which South Carolina is actually on the northern end and North
Very interesting article! Thanks so much for listing some important facts…love the site!
I did not realize that there was that much shoreline to the lake. Great article, by the way. This site is great and really captures the feel of the Lake Wylie community.
This is one beautiful spot! I am planning on doing some fishing there this summer. Your site looks great and these articles are awesome. Lake Wylie is a good deal bigger than a lot of people realize. Keep it up dude!
Hi Timothy,
You certainly nailed it, the lake is a lot bigger then most people think and as for the fishing well let just say that the Bass Masters love it! We appreciate your feedback regarding the site… its greatly appreciated!
LWadmin
John,
Thanks for you input and we’re glad you enjoyed all 352 miles of Shore line! Please come back often!
LWadmin
You werent kidding when you mentioned the drought. Many other lakes very nearly dried out but Lake Wylie was still full and perfect for fishing. Your articles are great!
Being from the area I can tell y’all it is great. From the fishin to the hiking and what not you will not find a shortage of things to pass the time. I’m glad to see a site on the Net showin how great the lake and area are. Keep up the good work.
As a big trivia fan I got a kick out of the fact that S Carolina is at the north end of the bridge. It is kinda like the whole W Virginia being to the north of Virginia. Cool site here!
Does anyone know where the name Lake Catawba came from or what it means? I am assuming it is Native American but I would like to know more. Thanks!
does anyone know where the 94 foot (deepest spot) is on lake wylie. that really caught my eye as i did not know the lake was possibly that deep and would like to make a trip to the spot. thanks!