Construction of Randleman Lake Will Fulfill Decades-Old Dream
brian mcrae, dream, fishing, hal johnson, randleman lake, randolph county, recreation, sport fishing, the piedmont triad regional water authority,
After more than 70 years of discussions‚ planning‚ tweaking and – ultimately – construction‚ Randolph County is getting a new lake.
Randleman Lake will provide both recreation and a safe and stable long-term regional water supply.
The 3‚000-acre manmade creation was first proposed in the 1930s‚ and it will finally become a reality in 2006. A dam on Deep River completed in 2003 is providing the lake its water.
The Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority – made up of representatives from Archdale‚ Greensboro‚ High Point‚ Randleman‚ the town of Jamestown and Randolph County – is overseeing construction of the lake and will manage future operations.
“First and foremost‚ Randleman Lake is a water supply‚ and that will be the focus of all decisions about how it is managed‚” notes Hal Johnson‚ director of planning and development for Randolph County. “Although we may not have a huge immediate need for additional water today‚ it’s a very positive thing that we will have this resource in the future as the area continues to grow and develop.”
Randleman Lake is expected to satisfy the projected water demand for not only Randolph County but nearby High Point and Greensboro for at least 50 years. The project is primarily in Randolph County‚ but it edges into Guilford County. The land set aside for the lake includes a 3‚000-acre buffer zone and a 200-foot-wide quiet zone around the reservoir.
Although Randleman Lake’s primary purpose is to provide drinking water‚ it also is expected to be a boon to area anglers. After it has finished filling in 2007‚ the lake will be stocked with 150‚000 fingerling largemouth bass and 60‚000 fingerling channel catfish‚ says Brian McRae‚ fisheries biologist at the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. It will take three to four years for the fish to begin to spawn‚ but other fish that already inhabit the river‚ including sunfish and crappie‚ will contribute to the mix right away.
“It will be ready to fish almost immediately‚” McRae says. “However‚ it takes between five and 10 years for a reservoir to stabilize‚ and angler success can vary dramatically during that period.”
Still‚ state and local officials say sports enthusiasts are eager to get out and try their luck on the lake once it opens for fishing. There is even some discussion of the lake hosting a Bassmasters Tournament in the future.
Since protecting water quality is the top priority‚ boating and fishing on the lake will be strictly controlled. The numbers‚ types and speeds of boats will be restricted‚ and limits will be placed on the size and quantity of fish that can be removed. Swimming and the use of personal watercraft such as Ski-Doos are prohibited. Water skiing will also be banned.
Johnson says other recreational uses for the lake will be evaluated gradually‚ and any improvements will be implemented in stages to ensure there is no negative effect on the water supply.
Development controls enacted in the late 1980s have “let us maintain the very low-density rural character of the whole area‚” says McRae‚ the fisheries biologist.
“The lake will be a great asset for the region for many years and in many different ways.”
Story by Anna America
Photo by Brian McCord
