View source for Catawba River

{{short description|River in North Carolina and South Carolina, United States}}
{{Infobox river
| name               = Catawba River
| name_native        = Eswa-Taroa<ref name=gnis/>
| name_native_lang   = 
| name_other         = 
| name_etymology     = Named after the [[Catawba people|Catawba Indians]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ncpedia.org/gazetteer/search/catawba%20river/0 |title=North Carolina Gazetteer |access-date= December 28, 2020}}</ref>
| nickname           =
<!---------------------- IMAGE-->
| image              = File:Catawba River, North Fork, near Ashford, North Carolina.jpg
| image_size         = 300
| image_caption      = A view of the Catawba River in [[McDowell County, North Carolina]]
| image_alt          =
<!---------------------- MAPS -->
| map                = Image:Santeerivermap.png
| map_size           = 300
| map_caption        = Map of the Santee River watershed showing the Catawba River
| map_alt            = 
| pushpin_map        = USA South Carolina
| pushpin_map_size   = 300
| pushpin_map_caption= Location of the mouth of the Catawba River in South Carolina
<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1  = Country
| subdivision_name1  = [[United States]]
| subdivision_type2  = States
| subdivision_name2  = [[North Carolina]], [[South Carolina]]
| subdivision_type3  = Counties
| subdivision_name3  = [[McDowell County, North Carolina|McDowell&nbsp;NC]], [[Caldwell County, North Carolina|Caldwell&nbsp;NC]], [[Burke County, North Carolina|Burke&nbsp;NC]], [[Alexander County, North Carolina|Alexander&nbsp;NC]], [[Catawba County, North Carolina|Catawba&nbsp;NC]], [[Iredell County, North Carolina|Iredell&nbsp;NC]], [[Lincoln County, North Carolina|Lincoln&nbsp;NC]], [[Gaston County, North Carolina|Gaston&nbsp;NC]], [[Mecklenburg County, North Carolina|Mecklenburg&nbsp;NC]], [[York County, South Carolina|York&nbsp;SC]], [[Lancaster County, South Carolina|Lancaster&nbsp;SC]], [[Fairfield County, South Carolina|Fairfield&nbsp;SC]]
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = 
| subdivision_type5  = 
| subdivision_name5  = 
<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| length             = 
| width_min          = 
| width_avg          = 
| width_max          = 
| depth_min          = 
| depth_avg          = 
| depth_max          = 
| discharge1_location= 
| discharge1_min     = 
| discharge1_avg     = 
| discharge1_max     = 
<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1            = Evans Knob<ref>{{cite gnis|id=1020177|name=Evans Knob|entrydate=June 17, 1980|access-date=December 28, 2020}}</ref>
| source1_location   = [[Ridgecrest, North Carolina|Ridgecrest]], [[North Carolina]]
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|35|36|04|N|82|17|06|W|display=inline}}<ref name=gnis/>
| source1_elevation  = {{convert|3044|ft|abbr=on}}
| mouth              = [[Wateree River]]
| mouth_location     = [[Liberty Hill, South Carolina|Liberty Hill]], [[South Carolina]]
| mouth_coordinates  = {{coord|34|28|01|N|80|53|20|W|display=inline,title}}<ref name=gnis>{{cite gnis|id=1010097|name=Catawba River|entrydate=June 17, 1980|access-date=December 28, 2020}}</ref>
| mouth_elevation    = {{convert|223|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="gnis"/>
| progression        = Catawba → [[Wateree River|Wateree]] → [[Santee River|Santee]] → [[Atlantic&nbsp;Ocean]]
| river_system       = Catawba River
| basin_size         = 
| basin_landmarks    = 
| basin_population   = 
| tributaries_left   = 
| tributaries_right  = 
| waterbodies        = [[Lake&nbsp;James]], Rhodhiss&nbsp;Lake, Lake&nbsp;Hickory, Lookout&nbsp;Shoals&nbsp;Lake, [[Lake&nbsp;Norman]], [[Mountain&nbsp;Island&nbsp;Lake]], [[Lake&nbsp;Wylie]], Fishing&nbsp;Creek&nbsp;Reservoir,Great&nbsp;Falls&nbsp;Reservoir, Cedar&nbsp;Creek&nbsp;Reservoir, [[Lake&nbsp;Wateree]]
| waterfalls         = [[Catawba Falls]]
| bridges            = 
| ports              = 
| custom_label       = 
| custom_data        = 
| extra              = 
}}
The '''Catawba River''' originates in [[Western North Carolina]] and flows into [[South Carolina]], where it is known as the [[Wateree River]]. The river is approximately 220 miles (350&nbsp;km) long. It rises in the [[Appalachian Mountains]] and drains into the [[Piedmont (United States)|Piedmont]], where it has been impounded through a series of reservoirs for [[flood#Flood defenses, planning, and management|flood control]] and generation of [[hydroelectricity]].  The river is named after the [[Catawba people|Catawba]] tribe of [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]], which lives on its banks. In their [[Catawba language|language]], they call themselves "yeh is-WAH h’reh", meaning "people of the river."<ref name=About>{{Cite web|url=https://www.catawbaindian.net/the-nation/about-the-nation.php/|title= About The Nation |website=www.catawbaindian.net |access-date=Dec 2, 2020}}</ref> 

The river rises in the [[Blue Ridge Mountains]] in western present-day [[McDowell County, North Carolina]], approximately 20 miles (30&nbsp;km) east of [[Asheville, North Carolina|Asheville]]. It flows ENE, falling over two waterfalls, Upper Catawba Falls and [[Catawba Falls]], before being dammed by [[Lake James]], and joining the [[Linville River]].  It passes north of [[Morganton, North Carolina|Morganton]], then southeast through Lake Rhodhiss and Lake Hickory just north of [[Hickory, North Carolina|Hickory]], and into the [[Lake Norman]] reservoir. From Lake Norman it flows south, passing west of [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]], then flowing through the [[Mountain Island Lake]] and [[Lake Wylie]] reservoirs, where it exits the reservoirs approximately 10 miles (15&nbsp;km) south of the border between North Carolina and South Carolina. The confluence of the [[South Fork Catawba River]] and Catawba River is submerged by Lake Wylie near the NC/SC state line.

The river flows into northern South Carolina, passing [[Rock Hill, South Carolina|Rock Hill]], through Fishing Creek Reservoir near [[Great Falls, South Carolina|Great Falls]], and into the [[Lake Wateree]] reservoir, approximately 30 miles (50&nbsp;km) northeast of [[Columbia, South Carolina|Columbia]]. At the now-submerged confluence with Wateree Creek, it becomes known as the [[Wateree River]].

==Dams==
[[Image:Catawba.gif|thumb|250px|Map of the Catawba River in South Carolina]]
The Catawba has been controlled by several dams, including the following:

'''North Carolina'''
*[[Lake James]] Dam
*[[Rhodhiss, North Carolina|Rhodhiss]] Dam
*Oxford Dam
*Lookout Shoals Dam
*[[Cowans Ford Dam]], creating [[Lake Norman]]
*[[Mountain Island Lake]] Dam

'''South Carolina'''
*[[Lake Wylie]] Dam in [[India Hook, South Carolina|India Hook]]
*[[Fishing Creek Reservoir]] in [[Great Falls, South Carolina|Great Falls]]
*Dearborn-Great Falls Dam
*Cedar Creek Reservoir Dam
*[[Lake Wateree]] Dam

==Controversy==
In 2006 the river became the center of a water use controversy between the residents of the Catawba watershed and [[Cabarrus County, North Carolina]]. The cities of [[Concord, North Carolina|Concord]] and [[Kannapolis, North Carolina|Kannapolis]] are expecting a daily shortfall of {{convert|22|e6USgal|m3}} of water a day by 2035 <ref name="The News Herald">{{cite web | work=The News Herald | title=Whose Water Is It? | url=http://www.morganton.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=MNH%2FMGArticle%2FMNH_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149190879171&path=!news | access-date=2008-02-22 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://archive.is/20070529025813/http://www.morganton.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=MNH/MGArticle/MNH_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149190879171&path=!news | archive-date=2007-05-29 }}</ref> and want to pump up to {{convert|36|e6USgal|m3}} of water daily from the Catawba River.<ref name="Mooresville Tribune">{{cite web | work=Mooresville Tribune | title=Political hot potato for region's water users | url=http://www.mooresvilletribune.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=MOT/MGArticle/MOT_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149190455084 | access-date=2008-02-22 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://archive.is/20070715014539/http://www.mooresvilletribune.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=MOT/MGArticle/MOT_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149190455084 | archive-date=2007-07-15 }}</ref> The Concord/Kannapolis Interbasin Transfer (IBT) proposal calls for water to be permanently transferred from one river basin to another river basin. Such a transfer is unlike the more common water usage, in which municipalities within the Catawba basin pump water from the river and treat it for residential use. Much of that treated water eventually returns to the Catawba River.

Though neither Concord nor Kannapolis is located in the Catawba River basin (both are located in the [[Pee Dee River]] basin), the cities said the Catawba River is a regional resource.  Opponents of the IBT argued that towns and cities along the Catawba River basin are growing as well, and that the cities' request is too large.

On January 10, 2007, the [[North Carolina]] state environmental panel authorized Concord and Kannapolis to pump up to {{convert|10|e6USgal|m3}} a day from the Catawba River.  This decision represented a compromise recommended by hearing officers for the Environmental Management Commission.  The mayors of [[Morganton, North Carolina|Morganton]]  and [[Valdese, North Carolina|Valdese]] said that they were adamantly against the transfer and that the panel's ruling was skewed and biased.<ref name="News Herald">{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Panel Opens Up Catawba River|url=https://www.mecknc.gov/LUESA/AirQuality/EducationandOutreach/Documents/water.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2008-02-22|work=News Harald}}{{dead link|date=February 2021|bot=Dlmarial|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>  Concord's city manager said the approval of the water transfer was "bittersweet", since the panel authorized an amount much lower than was originally requested and the action is likely to be delayed by lawsuits.  
<blockquote>“Well, (officials from) Hickory are going to file an appeal,” said Concord Mayor Scott Padgett, who spoke briefly with Hickory Mayor Rudy Wright after the EMC meeting. “His major concern is changing the (interbasin transfer) process. My appeal to him is that there should be a truce. To file an appeal is just going to prolong something we deserve, is less than what we asked for and is going to further hard feelings this has already created.” <ref name="The Independent Tribune">{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Water transfer approved|url=https://water.ca.gov/-/media/DWR-Website/Web-Pages/Programs/State-Water-Project/Management/Water-Transfers/Files/Draft-2012-Responsible-Water-Transfers-010620.pdf?la=en&hash=7AE67B82F1DC4A347C328167B89CAEF0F5A57BF6|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2008-02-22|work=The Independent Tribune}}{{dead link|date=February 2021|bot=Dlmarial|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref></blockquote>

The controversy ended in early 2010 when all the parties reached a settlement. It further limits the amount of water available to Concord and Kannapolis under drought conditions.

==A river at risk==
Starting in the early autumn months of 2007, residents and businesses of the Catawba basin, along with large swaths of the [[Southern United States]], began to feel the effects of an extreme drought. On October 15, 2007, the ''Morganton News Herald'' reported that [[North Carolina]] Governor [[Mike Easley]] described the drought as "the worst in recorded history".<ref name="Morganton News Herald">{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Gov: Drought worse in recorded history|url=https://www.drought.gov/california-no-stranger-dry-conditions-drought-2011-2017-was-exceptional|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2008-02-22|work=Morganton News Herald}}{{dead link|date=February 2021|bot=Dlmarial|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

On January 29, 2008, [[Duke Energy]], the utility responsible for managing the Catawba River, extended its estimated time frame for Stage 4 water restrictions to August. The extension was possible because of conservation measures and the 6&nbsp;inches of rain the basin received in December.  However, area leaders converged on Valdese to hear presentations from representatives of the N.C. Rural Center, N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the [[Appalachian Regional Commission]] about grants and loans available to help pay for solutions to the drought.<ref name="The Morganton News Herald">{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Small reprieve comes in drought, towns still preparing|url=https://www.news.com.au/national/the-australian-towns-facing-a-looming-day-zero-crisis/news-story/afd564ca4c78fa7a50db7f02b77d72cd|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2008-02-22|work=The Morganton News Herald}}{{dead link|date=February 2021|bot=Dlmarial|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

In April 2008 the environmental group American Rivers named the Catawba-[[Wateree River]] "the most endangered river in America."<ref name="Environment News Service">{{cite web | work= Environment News Service| title=America's 10 Most Endangered Rivers 2008 | url=http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2008/2008-04-17-01.asp|access-date=2008-04-20}}</ref> Reasons cited for the river's condition are the drought, the presence of 11 [[hydroelectric dams]], [[global warming]], and unchecked development along its banks, with the latter reported as the most serious threat.<ref name="The Charlotte Observer">{{cite web| work= Charlotte Observer/Charlotte.com| title= Defending the Catawba: Biggest threat is lack of sensible land-use planning| url= http://www.charlotte.com/opinion/story/588741.html| access-date= 2008-04-20}}{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

On June 11, 2008, South Carolina Governor [[Mark Sanford]] signed legislation denoting the Catawba as a state scenic river. The designation carries no land-use restrictions, but it allows the state to convene an advisory group to address river-related concerns.

On June 29, 2009, the [[EPA]] announced that four of the top 44 "High Hazard Ash Ponds" in the United States are on the Catawba River. Two [[ash pond]]s are adjacent to and discharge into [[Mountain Island Lake]]. The EPA High Hazard list also includes ash ponds on [[Lake Wylie]] and [[Lake Norman]].<ref name="EPA Fact Sheet: Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR)
Surface Impoundments with High Hazard Potential Ratings (June 2009)">{{cite web | work= EPA/EPA.gov| title= EPA Coal Ash Fact Sheet |url=http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/industrial/special/fossil/ccrs-fs/index.htm|access-date=2009-11-19}}</ref>

On December 11, 2014, [[Duke Energy]] received approval from North Carolina to dump [[coal ash]] (containing arsenic, lead, thallium and mercury, among other heavy metals) from the [[Marshall Steam Station]] into [[Lake Norman]] in order to repair a rusted, leaking pipe at their facility.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hickoryrecord.com/news/duke-to-repair-leaky-pipe-at-coal-ash-dump-in/article_2bd33b10-8185-11e4-989c-e347c5127e28.html|title=Duke to repair leaky pipe at coal ash dump in Catawba County|first=MICHAEL BIESECKER Associated|last=Press|website=hickoryrecord.com|access-date=21 April 2018}}</ref> Groundwater at the Marshall Steam Station flows toward Lake Norman, and the contaminated field abuts the lake for about 30 feet of shoreline near its largest coal ash basin, threatening water quality in the lake.<ref>[http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/energy/2015/09/duke-energy-completes-groundwater-contamination.html]</ref>

On October 3, 2015, Duke Energy reported that a sinkhole had formed at the base of the Marshall Steam Station dam north of Charlotte on Lake Norman. The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) says Duke Energy placed a liner in the hole and filled it with crushed stone.<ref>[http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/energy/2015/10/weekend-storm-impacts-dams-at-duke-energy-coal.html?ana=e_du_pub&s=article_du&ed=2015-10-05&u=jFGEoJyeJYHFwZ4W/oMBM4H/9NF&t=1444074616]</ref>

The Catawba River basin is one of only four areas left in the southeast with significant populations of ''[[Hymenocallis coronaria]]'', the Shoals spider lily.  It has one large population left at [[Landsford Canal State Park]].<ref name="multiscale">{{cite journal |url=http://www.amjbot.org/content/94/2/151.full |title=Multiscale analysis of ''Hymenocallis coronaria'' (Amaryllidaceae) genetic diversity, genetic structure, and gene movement under the influence of unidirectional stream flow |last1=Markwith |first1=Scott H. |last2=Scanlon |first2=Michael J. |volume=94 |issue=2 |pages=151–60 |date=May 11, 2006 |journal=American Journal of Botany |publisher=Botanical Society of America |access-date=October 1, 2012|pmid=21642217 |doi=10.3732/ajb.94.2.151 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

==Crossings==
[[Image:CatawbaRiver.jpg|thumb|300px|On the Catawba River]]
The Catawba River is crossed by many highways over its course. (Note: this list may be incomplete)

'''North Carolina'''
*Lake James to Lake Norman
**Power House Road
**Watermill Glen Alpine Road
**Independence Blvd in [[Morganton, North Carolina|Morganton]]
**N Green Street (N.C. 181) in Morganton
**[[U.S. 64]] in Morganton
**Huffman Bridge
**Castle Bridge near [[Rutherford College, North Carolina|Rutherford College]]
**Rhodhiss Road in [[Rhodhiss, North Carolina|Rhodhiss]]
**[[U.S. 321]] in [[Hickory, North Carolina|Hickory]]
**N.C. 127 near Hickory
**N.C. 16 below Oxford Dam
**[[Interstate 40]]
**[[U.S. Route 70 in North Carolina|US 70]] in Catawba
**Buffalo Shoals Road (Iredell County)/Hudson Chapel Road (Catawba County) over [[Lake Norman]]
**N.C. 150 over Lake Norman
*Lake Norman to the SC border
**N.C. 73 bridge at Cowans Ford Dam
**Rozzelle Bridge on Brookshire Blvd (N.C. 16) over [[Mountain Island Lake]]
**E. Charlotte Avenue in [[Mount Holly, North Carolina|Mount Holly]]
**[[Interstate 85]]
**Wilkinson Blvd [[U.S. 29]] and [[U.S. 74]] in [[Belmont, North Carolina|Belmont]]
**[[Buster Boyd Bridge]] over Lake Wylie
'''South Carolina'''
*Lake Wylie to Lake Wateree
**[[Interstate 77]] between [[Rock Hill, South Carolina|Rock Hill]] and [[Fort Mill, South Carolina|Ft. Mill]]
**Cherry Road [[U.S. 21]] between [[Rock Hill, South Carolina|Rock Hill]] and [[Fort Mill, South Carolina|Ft. Mill]]
**(Future) Dave Lyle Boulevard in [[Rock Hill, South Carolina|Rock Hill]]
**Rock Hill Highway ([[South Carolina Highway 5|S.C. 5]]) in [[Catawba, South Carolina|Catawba]]
**Lancaster-Chester Highway ([[South Carolina Highway 9|S.C. 9]])
**Francis Avenue in [[Great Falls, South Carolina|Great Falls]]

==See also==
*[[List of North Carolina rivers]]
*[[List of South Carolina rivers]]
*[[U.S. National Whitewater Center]]

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*{{GNIS|1010097|Catawba River}}

{{Morganton}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Rivers of North Carolina]]
[[Category:Rivers of South Carolina]]
[[Category:Borders of North Carolina]]
[[Category:Borders of South Carolina]]
[[Category:Catawba River| ]]
[[Category:Rock Hill, South Carolina]]
[[Category:Fort Mill, South Carolina]]
[[Category:Geography of Charlotte, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Hickory, North Carolina]]