Catawba River Basin

              Lake James is the first of
seven man- made lakes on
the Catawba River in
North Carolina.
profile:
Total miles of
streams and rivers:
3,285
Total acres of lakes:
50,764
Municipalities
within basin: 61
Counties within
basin: 11
Size: 3,285
square miles
Population:
1,170,512
( 2000 U. S. Census)
The Catawba River begins on the eastern slopes of
the Blue Ridge Mountains in McDowell County.
It flows east, then south into Lake Wylie on the
North Carolina- South Carolina border. Many
beau tiful, clear streams in the upper reaches of the basin
have received state and national attention for their unspoiled
character. The 23- mile Wilson Creek was designated a National Wild and Scenic River by the
National Park Service. It flows through the Pisgah National Forest and spills dramatically
through the rugged Linville Gorge before joining the Johns River. The basin’s Linville River
also has special scenic character— the lower 13 miles is designated a State Natural and Scenic
River. It flows into Lake James. Other large tributaries in the Catawba River Basin include the
Johns, South Fork Catawba, Henry Fork and Jacob Fork rivers.
The basin is also a land of lakes.
The Catawba River con tains the
most major dams of any North
Caro lina river. The longest free-flowing
stretch of the Catawba
River in North Carolina is only
about 17 miles. Most of the 224-
mile river exists as a chain of
seven man- made lakes, which
first supplied electric power for
industry and now provide recrea -
tion, drinking water and electricity
for expand ing Pied mont towns
and cities. One of these reser -
voirs, Lake Norman, is the largest
man- made lake in the state. At
32,000 acres, it’s often called
North Carolina’s “ inland sea.”
( The river feeds four additional
reservoirs in South Carolina.)
CHARLES BRASWELL JR.
CATAWBARIVER
BASIN
T he Catawba River Basin in North Carolina is a place of extremes— you can discover
both urban and wild adventures within its boundaries. The basin contains a large
national wilderness area near its headwaters and a major metropolitan area where the
Catawba River flows into South Carolina. This haven of natural wonders includes the
6,000- foot Grandfather Mountain, the Pisgah National Forest, Linville Falls, one of the
most beautiful and popular cascades in the Appalachian Mountains, and Linville Gorge,
one of the deepest canyons in the eastern United States.