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Drought affects lake levels at Cowan's Ford Dam

By Angela Hong
By Angela Hong

STANLEY, N.C. — Charlotte is now out of a severe drought. Duke Energy says we're not out of the clear yet.

Our cameras got a firsthand look at how the lack of rain has impacted area dams and why there is still concern for the coming months.

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The Cowans Ford hydro station in Lincoln County sits on Lake Norman. Right now it's still operating as it's going through a $75 million renovations.

"This facility affects many people in this area," station manager, Mike Williams said. "Not only with power generation but also with recreation facilities."

This station alone provides energy for more than 240,000 homes and Duke Energy relies on it heavily in extreme conditions -- like the record heat we've had this summer.

  • Read more about drought conditions in the Carolinas 

Nick Keener, a meteorologist with Duke Energy says there hasn't been enough rain this year so the company hasn't been able to use their hydro stations as much.

"We've had a rainfall deficiency that started in January," Keener explained. "We are running about seven to eight inches deficient in rain."

Eight out of the 31 boat ramps on Lake Norman are closed because of the low water levels and until Thursday our area was in a severe drought. Those conditions have improved but the energy company continues to monitor the lake levels and for good reason.

https://twitter.com/AngelaWSOC9/status/636919089542377472

Keener explains our driest months are in the fall, usually around September, October and November.

Duke Energy has had to cut hydro electricity production by 26 percent this year and it's their cheapest, most efficient and cleanest energy product. So they want to see their turbines working at full capacity again.

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