Lake Norman’s Shoreline Management Plan

Overview:

Duke Energy’s Lake Norman Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) was last updated in 2006. This document outlines how each section of the shoreline will be managed in great detail, breaking it up into the following categories:

  • methodology and planning process,
  • project area description,
  • shoreline management guidelines, and
  • maps.

For the purposes of this project, an analysis of the shoreline management guidelines follow, as this is where the key changes occurred with the 2006 update. Duke Energy describes the following changes as significant.  Key changes included:

  • updating shoreline stabilization methods,
  • better management of native vegetative species,
  • incorporating regulations for private property,
  • adding consequences for violations,
  • creating more regulations for marinas,
  • limiting excavations,
  • updating the conveyance program, and
  • outlining miscellaneous lake uses.

Shoreline Stabilization:

Rip Rap lining lake shore

 

Obviously, the stability of the shoreline matters, as shoreline stability helps prevent erosion. Rip-rap  is the primary tool used to stabilize shorelines, although the new changes prevent this technique from being used within 50′ of a declared environmental area. The changes also instruct contractors to avoid willow bed areas, although no consequences for failure to do so are delineated.

 

 

 

Management of Native Vegetative Species:

Cat-tails, a native species to Lake Norman

 

Protecting native species is vital to maintaining a healthy ecosystem. With the changes to the SMP, this now includes prohibition of removing certain native species, minimum growth requirements for removing other native species, the maintenance of view sheds, requiring dead trees to be left for habitat creation, outlawing the planting of turf grasses and other invasive non-natural species, and prohibiting mechanical clearance of shoreline areas (except that which is specified for shoreline stabilization purposes.

 

 

 

 

 

Private Property Regulations:

Private peer extending into the lake

 

New regulations extend property lines into the lake, which clears confusion when applying for dock permits. The SMP also outlines minimum maneuverability distances for safety reasons. No boat ramps are allowed to be constructed anymore, due to the resulting environmental degradation and fluctuating lake levels in the summer months.  New requirements were also implemented for facility maintenance for existing structures on the lake, increasing safety.

 

 

 

Consequences for Violations:

Most consequences do not involve actual jail time, but instead a fine.

 

Most violations are not punishable by actual jail time.  Instead, Duke Energy elects to fine non-compliance issues. In the updated SMP, the have created more specific penalties for noncompliance.  Perhaps one of the biggest changes is the ability to now withhold the permitting consideration process for up to five years in the case where a violation has occurred.  While this may seem overly harsh, it allows all individuals plenty of time to “get all their ducks in a row”.

 

 

 

 

Marina Regulations:

 

Marinas are sites where many boats are stored.

The updated SMP works to encourage marina owners to actively protect and preserve the shoreline through an incentives program. It also restrains marinas from being built in narrow coves, or being expanded near shoreline that’s designated as an “environmental” section. Actual public marinas are now required to build public restrooms and waste disposal sites.  In addition, marinas that offer refueling services now also must provide an absorbent material in case of petroleum contamination.

 

 

Excavations:

An example of some of the heavy equipment required for excavation efforts

 

Excavation efforts occurring on or near the lakes shorelines has been limited in the updated SMP.Excavation in willow beds is not allowed at all, unless it is to maintain previously approved facilities.  The same now applies to areas designated as “environmental” within the plan. Duke Energy now also requires a copy of the contract between the applicant and the contractor for their records. The updated version does also grant applicants the ability to extend their permit by up to 12 months, whereas previously that was not allowed.

 

 

 

 

 

Conveyance Program:

Bridge over Lake Wylie

 

A conveyance is any kind of transport on the lake, such as traffic over bridges, water intake, or effluent outfall.  The updated SMP also implements guidelines for buried utility lines – for example, they must be buried at a level 2 feet blow the minimum lake level at which   industrial intake or regional power plant intake located on the reservoir will not operate at its Duke Energy-approved capacity. This section is perhaps the most jargon-filled, and least accessible for the general public.

 

 

 

 

 

Other Miscellaneous Lake Uses and Outcomes of the Updated SMP:

Other changes seemingly tacked on include limits on private hydropower pumps (now limited to 2 horsepower), requiring fish attractors must be built near existing structures,  allowing heat pump coils and geothermal units to be placed under existing approved structures, and exempting dry hydrants from depth requirements if they include a Lake Facility Safety Plan. This plan also added two new habitat classifications: Bottomland Hardwood Areas and Natural Isolated Berms. Many areas of shoreline were reclassified in narrow coves to prevent the addition or expansion of marinas in narrow areas. Lastly, mapping accuracy was greatly increased.  This culminated in several static maps and an interactive map.

 

Sources: