Overview
Lake Norman is what many would consider an “inland sea” with 520 miles of shoreline and a surface area of more than 32,475 acres. In fact, the lake is larger than the other ten lakes on the Catawba River, combined. With so much shoreline to cover, there is an extensive amount of regulations. The FERC requires Duke to manage both land and water usage on land up to the full pond contour of the lakes, which is defined as the “project boundary”. Full pond for Lake Norman is 760 feet in elevation. This responsibility includes several aspects, such as the administration of permitting programs and processes designed to meet regulatory requirements. It also includes the responsibility to protect and enhance scenic, environmental and recreational value, while also protecting Duke Energy’s investments on the river.
The regulatory agencies operate in a hierarchical manner. While the FERC oversees Duke Energy, Duke Energy is really the lynchpin of the system, responsible for the day-to-day operations that protect the lake. Anything the county and state government wishes to do must comply with Duke Energy’s Shoreline Management Plan, which has been approved by the FERC. In essence, FERC > Duke Energy > State and Local County Governments.
Duke Energy’s Shoreline Management Plan (SMP)
Duke Energy’s SMP and guidelines help carry out these responsibilities. This document was last updated in 2006. Key changes and further explanation can be found here. Specifically, the SMP:
- details present and future uses of project lands and waters,
- addresses changing issues in the management of the project, and ensures the delicate balance between protecting the resource, satisfying FERC requirements and the company’s obligation to provide electricity,
- includes a study of future recreational needs, and
- features detailed maps of the reservoirs, which, among other datum, indicate where environmentally sensitive and protected shoreline areas exist.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, is an independent agency that regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil. FERC also reviews proposals to build liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals and interstate natural gas pipelines as well as licensing hydropower projects. This relates to Lake Norman in the following ways:
- Regulates the transmission and wholesale sales of electricity in interstate commerce
- Reviews certain mergers and acquisitions and corporate transactions by electricity companies
- Licenses and inspects private, municipal, and state hydroelectric projects
- Enforces FERC regulatory requirements through imposition of civil penalties and other means
- Oversees environmental matters related to natural gas and hydroelectricity projects and other matters
County and State Regulatory Agencies:
Because Lake Norman lies within the counties of Mecklenburg, Iredell, Catawba, and Lincoln, its shorelines are subject to the policies and laws that exist in each county. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is a division of the state Department of Natural Resources. Each county has an office that coordinates with state and local government agencies to comply with Duke Energy’s maintenance of the lake and it’s shorelines.
Sources
Duke Energy
2014 Duke Energy Logo. Electronic document, https://davidsonarchivesandspecialcollections.org/uln/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/03/duke.png, accessed April 1, 2014.
Catawba County
2014 Catawba County Seal. Electronic document, https://davidsonarchivesandspecialcollections.org/uln/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/03/catawba.png, accessed April 7, 2014.
Duke Energy
2014 Lake Norman. Electronic document, https://www.duke-energy.com/lakes/facts-and-maps/lake-norman.asp, accessed March 26, 2014.
Duke Energy
2014 Shoreline Management Plan. Electronic document, https://www.duke-energy.com/catawba-wateree-relicensing/shoreline-management-plan.asp, accessed February 20, 2014.
FERC
2014 FERC seal. Electronic document, https://davidsonarchivesandspecialcollections.org/uln/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/03/ferc.png, accessed April 7, 2014.
FERC
2013 What FERC Does. Electronic document, http://www.ferc.gov/about/ferc-does.asp, accessed March 23, 2014.
Iredell County
2014 Iredell County seal. Electronic document, https://davidsonarchivesandspecialcollections.org/uln/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/03/iredell.png, accessed April 7, 2014.
Lincoln County
2014 Lincoln County seal. Electronic document, https://davidsonarchivesandspecialcollections.org/uln/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/03/lincoln.png, accessed April 7, 2014.
Mecklenburg County
2014 Mecklenburg County seal. Electronic document, https://davidsonarchivesandspecialcollections.org/uln/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/03/meck.png, accessed April 7, 2014.





