Water restrictions lifted; boat access to remain closed

By: Sharon McBrayer | Morganton News Herald
Published: April 09, 2009

Morganton --

Water restrictions have been lifted in Burke County, but officials say residents should continue to conserve as the area moves into summer.
Morganton and Valdese officials announced on Thursday that the area is going from mandatory to voluntary water restrictions after a conference call with representatives in the upper Catawba River basin.
The change means that residents won't face fines and they can water lawns and wash vehicles any day. But people should still try to conserve, said Don Danford, director of water resources for Morganton.
Danford said if folks should use the water they need but not waste it.
While things have improved, Jeff Morse, Valdese Town manager, said conditions can change quickly. Morse said long-range conditions are predicted to be drier than normal.
"The recent rains have significantly improved conditions from the severe drought of the past two years, but spring's increasing evaporation and a period of below-average precipitation in combination with increasing downstream flow releases could quickly stress the basin just as it did two years ago," said Ed Bruce, CW-DMAG coordinator. "Future rainfall patterns will dictate whether conditions continue to improve or the basin falls back into a moderate or severe drought."
The Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group was formed to regularly review the drought status and to recommend and coordinate needed actions for the CW-DMAG members.
According to information from the group, meteorologists are predicting above-average rainfall for April and below-average rainfall for May.
Water levels in the swimming area of Lake James State Park will be lower than normal as a result of a project by Duke Energy to improve the Catawba dam spillway, according to information from the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.
Hidden Cove boat access area on the lake also will remain closed. The boat access has been used as a construction staging area for heavy equipment during the project.
"For the safety of park visitors and lake users, the boat access area will remain closed due to the presence of large construction vehicles and equipment," said Park Superintendent Sean McElhone. "The intent is to reopen the boat access area as soon as it is safe for use."
McElhone said water levels at the park's swimming area will only be about three feet during construction. Levels could drop further depending on the amount of rainfall the area receives, he said.
If water levels drop enough, it could cause the swimming area to be closed on short notice, McElhone said.
The project, which will replace 2.5 feet of spillway crest, should be completed by July 1, according to state officials. After it's complete, water levels should return to normal for the summer.
Canal Bridge boat access on N.C. 126 will remain open, say state officials.

Water restrictions lifted; boat access to remain closed

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