Ramsey Creek boat ramp is open

Dec. 28. For all you winter boaters, the ramps at Blythe Landing and Ramsey Creek Park have reopened.

The lake level was back up—and above target—at about 97.5 feet this morning, well above Duke Energy’s target level of 96. Full pond—when the lake is at capacity—is 100 feet.

Drought conditions have been responsible for low lake levels, dropping below 97 feet in August and still lower in November and December.

Lake Norman, sometimes referred to as the Inland Sea, is 760 feet above mean sea level.

The target level for Duke is 96 feet right now. Normal maximum elevation is 100 feet, or 760 feet above sea level.

On Nov. 1, the Catawba-Wateree River Basin entered Stage 1 of the Low Inflow Protocol (LIP) due to lack of rainfall. Between Nov. 18 and Dec. 27 lake levels have come up about 30 inches.