Bleeding Lake Norman from Cowan's Ford Dam

Cowans Ford Hydroelectric Station is a

hydroelectric power plant Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies one sixth of the world's electricity, almost 4500 TWh in 2020, which is more than all other renewable sources combined and ...

and

dam A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use ...

located near

Huntersville, North Carolina Huntersville is a large suburban town in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States. A part of the Charlotte metropolitan area, the population was 61,376 at the 2020 census, making Huntersville the 15th largest municipality in North Caroli ...

, approximately 20 miles north of

Charlotte Charlotte ( ) is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont (United States), Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Meckl ...

Lake Norman Lake Norman is the largest man-made body of fresh water in North Carolina. It was created between 1959 and 1964 as part of the construction of the Cowans Ford Dam by Duke Energy. Geography Lake Norman is fed by the Catawba River, and drains i ...

. It is the largest conventional hydro station owned by

Duke Energy Duke Energy Corporation is an American electric power and natural gas holding company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Overview Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Duke Energy owns 58,200 megawatts of base-load and peak generation in ...

, generating up to 350 MW of power. Three units began generating electricity in 1963, with a fourth unit beginning operation in 1967. They supply "peaking power"—extra electricity needed to meet demand when it is needed most—typically hot summer days and cold winter mornings. Cowans Ford Dam impounds the

Catawba River The Catawba River originates in Western North Carolina and flows into South Carolina, where it later becomes known as the Wateree River. The river is approximately 220 miles (350 km) long. It rises in the Appalachian Mountains and drains into ...

to create Lake Norman, the largest man-made body of fresh water in

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...

. The lake provides water to Lincoln County and the communities of

Davidson Davidson may refer to: * Davidson (name) * Clan Davidson, a Highland Scottish clan * Davidson Media Group * Davidson Seamount, undersea mountain southwest of Monterey, California, USA * Tyler Davidson Fountain, monument in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA * ...

, Mooresville,

and Huntersville. The lake was named for former Duke Power president Norman Cocke.

References

{{Coord, 35.4349, -80.9584, type:landmark_region:US-NC, display=title Hydroelectric power plants in North Carolina Buildings and structures in Lincoln County, North Carolina Buildings and structures in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Dams in North Carolina Dams on the Catawba River Duke Energy dams Dams completed in 1963 Energy infrastructure completed in 1963 Energy infrastructure completed in 1967 1963 establishments in North Carolina

See also

References