Lake Gaston

Lake Gaston is a hydroelectric reservoir in the eastern United States.[1] Part of the lake is in the North Carolina counties of Halifax, Northampton, and Warren. The part extending into Virginia lies in Brunswick and Mecklenburg counties. Lake Gaston is roughly 35 miles (56 km) long and covers over 20,000 acres (81 km2), with 350 miles (560 km) of shoreline.

Lake Gaston
Main lake view from the mouth of Hamlin Creek
Lake Gaston
Lake Gaston
Lake Gaston
LocationNorth Carolina–Virginia border, United States
Coordinates36.509649°N 77.880819°W / 36.509649; -77.880819
TypeReservoir
Basin countriesUnited States
Max. length34 mi (55 km)
Max. width1.3 mi (2.1 km)
Surface area20,000 acres (81 km2)
Average depth40 feet (12 m)
Max. depth95 feet (29 m)
Shore length1350 mi (560 km)
Surface elevation200 ft (61 m)
IslandsWobble Island, Stagger Island, Goat Island
SettlementsLittleton (NC), Henrico (NC), Macon (NC) Gasburg (VA), Bracey (VA)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

The area surrounding the lake is home to more than 150,000 residents. The nearest towns are Littleton and Roanoke Rapids in North Carolina, and Clarksville and South Hill in Virginia.

The lake is not federally owned. It was formed when the Virginia Electric Power Company (VEPCO) built Gaston Dam on the Roanoke River to generate electricity for Dominion Resources, which owns the lake.[2] The dam is located on the North Carolina side and generates electricity for Dominion North Carolina Power, which is the North Carolina operating company of Dominion Resources. The dam includes four hydroelectric generators, with a total generating capacity of 224 megawatts.[3]

Lake Gaston, fed by water from Kerr Lake upstream, and supplies water to Roanoke Rapids Lake downstream, a smaller predecessor to Lake Gaston. One of the few areas in the country with three hydroelectric dams in close proximity to one another.

Lake Gaston has long been famous for fishing and other water recreations. The lake is a favorite vacation spot because it is close to the Research Triangle region of North Carolina, I-85, and I-95. Lake Gaston, built for flood control, hydroelectric power, and recreational enjoyment, includes such activities as fishing, boating, swimming, water skiing, and wakeboarding.

Lake level and water management
Sunrise over Lake Gaston

Lake Gaston differs from many other lakes in that the water levels are strictly regulated through a license with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The license also requires cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which manages the upstream feeder lake, Lake Kerr. There are four defined operating conditions for Lake Gaston:[4]

  • Normal: 199–200 feet (60.7–61.0 m) of elevation
  • Fish Spawning: 199–201 feet (60.7–61.3 m) of elevation
  • Flood Control: up to 203 feet (61.9 m) of elevation (204 feet [62.2 m] possible in a 100-year flood event)
  • Drought: No lower than 197 feet (60.0 m) feet of elevation

As a result of controlled lake levels, fixed docks and boathouses are normal on Lake Gaston.

Lakeside residences

Community association

The Lake Gaston Association (LGA) is a citizens' organization that actively advocates and promotes the interests of households and businesses who own property in the two states and five counties encompassing Lake Gaston. Each of the five counties surrounding Lake Gaston has four volunteer Director positions on the LGA Board, plus one at-large position, for a total of 25 Directors. It is a volunteer, non-profit, nonpartisan, and nonsectarian organization, unified for more significant influence with federal, state, local officials, and agencies that have management authority on and around Lake Gaston.

Real estate

Lake Gaston covers an extended geographical area and is bordered by several towns. Real estate is generally broken up via quadrant,[5] and realtors will use the terms "South-East", "South-West", "North-East", and "North-West" when discussing general location of a property on the lake.[6]

Waterfront construction authority

Generally speaking, no individual owns waterfront property on Lake Gaston. Dominion Power owns the lake and lands up to the "High Water Mark." Real estate, listed with an indicator, tells the buyer how many linear feet of property they would potentially own that abuts to the High Water Mark. This number used to be referred to as the "HWM" on real estate listings, and is now referred to as "DOM".[7] However, Dominion Power does allow for construction of boathouses and other permitted structures through an approval process.[8]

Recreation
Lake Gaston from Old Bridge Point on Hubquarter Creek

Major on-water marinas

By quad:

  • South-West/Central
    • Eaton Ferry Marina (Keel Marinas), Littleton, NC[9]
  • South-East
    • Stonehouse Timber Lodge, Littleton, NC
    • Outdoor World, Littleton, NC
  • North-West
    • Holly Grove Marina, Bracey, VA
    • Americamps, Bracey VA
    • Poplar Point Marine, Bracey, VA
  • North-East
    • Washburn's Marina, Henrico, NC
    • Lake Gaston Resort, Gasburg, VA

Marine supply and boat dealers

*Overby Marine, Littleton, NC *Northampton Marine, Henrico, NC *Poplar Point Marine, Bracey, VA *Fred's Boats Sales and Service, Littleton, NC

Boating regulations

The North Carolina part of the lake is controlled by the Wildlife Resources Commission. The Virginia side is regulated by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.[10]

Local Media

"Lake the Magazine" is a reflection of life on Lake Gaston and Roanoke Rapids Lake. It is published monthly, connecting people through inspiring, entertaining, and informative content. The distribution includes households in the lake country that subscribe to The Daily Herald, and complimentary copies are available at high profile locations throughout Halifax and Northampton counties.[11]

"The Lake Gaston Gazette-Observer," founded in 1955, is owned by Womack Publishing Company, a family-owned community newspaper business based in Chatham, Va. It is published each Wednesday. Other publications include Lake Life magazine, a full-color glossy magazine, published seasonally. The community newspaper has 17,500 readers each week, covers Mecklenburg and Brunswick counties in Virginia and Warren, Northampton, and Halifax counties in North Carolina, including the towns of Littleton and Warrenton in North Carolina and Gasburg and Bracey in Virginia as well as the communities of Henrico, and Ebony.[12]

The "Lake Gaston Guide" is a webpage sharing news, weather, fishing, boating/camping, events & entertainment, real estate, maps, and directory information for residents of and visitors to the Lake Gaston Area.

Pipeline

After many years of court battles,[13][14] a 70-mile (110 km) pipeline was established from Lake Gaston to Virginia Beach to provide water to that coastal community in Virginia.[15]

References
  1. "Lake Gaston". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  2. "Lake & Dam History". Lake Gaston Guide. Archived from the original on 2016-11-03. Retrieved 2017-01-04.
  3. "Gaston Hydro Station". Dominion. 2008. Archived from the original on 2010-01-02. Retrieved 2008-11-18.
  4. "Lake Gaston Roanoke Rapids Lake Operations" (PDF). Lakegastonassoc.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-03-28. Retrieved 2017-01-04.
  5. "Lake Gaston Information & Real Estate". Lakegaston.com. Archived from the original on 2017-03-28. Retrieved 2017-01-04.
  6. "Lake Gaston Map". Lakegaston.com. Archived from the original (GIF) on 2017-03-28. Retrieved 2017-01-04.
  7. "Lake Gaston Shoreline / Dominion Power". Lake-gaston-properties.com. Archived from the original on 2017-02-07. Retrieved 2017-01-04.
  8. "Construction and Use Procedures for Lake Gaston and Roanoke Rapids Lake". Archived from the original on 2016-04-15. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  9. https://eatonferrymarina.net/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. "Boating Regulations". Lake Gaston Guide. 1988-01-01. Archived from the original on 2016-11-03. Retrieved 2017-01-04.
  11. Herald, The Daily. "Lake The Magazine". The Daily Herald. Archived from the original on 2018-01-07. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  12. "About Us – Lake Gaston Gazette-Observer: Site". lakegastongazette-observer.com. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  13. "Lake Gaston Pipeline | Controversy rages over Lake Gaston pipeline to Virginia Opponents of project again take their case to Supreme Court". The Baltimore Sun. 1998-01-20. Archived from the original on 2017-03-28. Retrieved 2017-01-04.
  14. Paul Schmidt. "Un-Neighborly Conduct: Why Can't Virginia Beach and North Carolina Be Friends?" (PDF). William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review. 23. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2017-01-04.
  15. "Lake Gaston Water Supply Pipeline :: VBgov.com – City of Virginia Beach". VBgov.com. 2011-08-15. Archived from the original on 2017-03-18. Retrieved 2017-01-04.
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