Beginning this week, Duke Power will start lowering Cedar Cliff and Bear Creek Lakes below normal to allow maintenance on the floodgates at the dams.

Plans are to have both lakes 27 feet below full between Oct. 28 and Nov. 11. Normal November target elevations for Bear and Cedar Cliff are two feet below full.

Both lakes are reservoirs for hydroelectric plants on the East Fork of the Tuckasegee River in Jackson County.

“Because of the anticipated lowering and filling schedule, we expect boating access will likely not be possible on Bear after Oct. 11,” said Fred Alexander, Duke Power district manager. “Cedar Cliff access is currently blocked by a large amount of sediment that arrived this summer. We regret this inconvenience, but believe this work needs to be done sooner rather than later.”

The floodgates are the primary tool used to deal with high flows that exceed the holding capacity of the reservoirs. Often they allow Duke Power to release less water than is coming in from storm flows and protect the dam. This schedule will change if heavy storm waters come our way this fall.

Lake levels can be monitored at www.nantahalapower.com or by calling toll free 1.866.332.5253.