North Raleigh Today

Duke Energy has announced the commencement of a Recreation Use and Needs Study (RUNS) along the Catawba-Wateree River basin. This study, which occurs every decade, will be conducted from March through October 30, 2025. The purpose is to gather public feedback on recreational and water access opportunities managed by Duke Energy.

The study encompasses all Duke Energy-owned public recreation sites across eleven lakes, including Lake James, Lake Rhodhiss, Lake Hickory, Lookout Shoals Lake, Lake Norman, Mountain Island Lake, Lake Wylie, Fishing Creek Reservoir, Great Falls Reservoir, Cedar Creek Reservoir, and Lake Wateree.

Christy Churchill from Duke Energy’s Hydro and Lake Services team emphasized the company's commitment to being a good neighbor by offering shared water resources for enjoyment. "At Duke Energy, we want to be a good neighbor. A part of doing that is providing opportunities to enjoy our shared water resource," Churchill stated.

To facilitate participation in the study, traffic and trail counters have been installed at each site. Additionally, clerks will be present on key days to interview visitors about their experiences. QR codes linked to online surveys are available at each access area for easy public engagement. "We want the public to engage with us so we want to make this easy," said Churchill.

The findings from this study will be made publicly available and submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in 2026.

Duke Energy Carolinas operates as a subsidiary of Duke Energy with an energy capacity of 20,700 megawatts serving North Carolina and South Carolina customers. Overall, Duke Energy serves 8.4 million electric utility customers across six states and owns 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity.

The company is committed to an energy transition focused on reliability and value while investing in grid upgrades and cleaner generation technologies such as natural gas and renewables.

For further information or inquiries regarding the study or other initiatives by Duke Energy, contact Ben Williamson at 800-559-3853.