Drought Resources

DROUGHT
RESOURCES

Catawba-Wateree River Basin Moves to LIP Stage 1

November 3, 2026: Duke Energy has announced that conditions in the Catawba-Wateree River Basin have improved to support Low Inflow Protocol (LIP) Stage 1. The reservoir storage index trigger, 3-month average of the US Drought Monitor trigger, and streamflow trigger have all improved and support the move to Stage 1 conditions.

At Stage 1, Public Water Suppliers will request that water customers and employees implement voluntary water use restrictions in accordance with their drought response plans. The goal is to continue to reduce water usage by 3-5% or more from the amount otherwise expected.

Recovery to LIP Stage 0 will occur when the streamflow trigger improves to at least 78% of the 6-month average streamflow, assuming the reservoir storage and drought monitor values do not decline below their Stage 0 values.

Lake Level Information

Duke Energy maintains a comprehensive website with lake level information that can be found here.

Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group (CW-DMAG)

As part of Duke Energy’s Catawba-Wateree hydro relicensing process, the CW-DMAG was created to address water use by large water users and entities with water intakes. This group developed a low inflow protocol (LIP) to establish procedures for reductions in water use during periods of low inflow to the Catawba-Wateree basin. Click here for the Low Inflow Protocol.

In addition, each year since 2006 the CW-DMAG, in collaboration with the CWWMG member utilities, has collected and analyzed extensive water use data for the Catawba-Wateree River Basin. The results are summarized in an annual report; copies are provided below. For additional information about the CW-DMAG visit Duke Energy CW-DMAG.

2022 Catawba-Wateree Water Use Summary Report
2021 Catawba-Wateree Water Use Summary Report
2020 Catawba-Wateree Water Use Summary Report
2019 Catawba-Wateree Water Use Summary Report
2018 Catawba-Wateree Water Use Summary Report
2017 Catawba-Wateree Water Use Summary Report
2016 Catawba-Wateree Water Use Summary Report
2015 Catawba-Wateree Water Use Summary Report
2014 Catawba-Wateree Water Use Summary Report
2013 Catawba-Wateree Water Use Summary Report
2012 Catawba-Wateree Water Use Summary Report
2011 Catawba-Wateree Water Use Summary Report
2010 Catawba-Wateree Water Use Summary Report
2009 Catawba-Wateree Water Use Summary Report
2008 Catawba-Wateree Water Use Summary Report
2007 Catawba-Wateree Water Use Summary Report
2006 Catawba-Wateree Water Use Summary Report

The CW-DMAG Annual Meeting was held June 14, 2022. 

The CW-DMAG also conducts periodic reviews of the Low Inflow Protocol (LIP), the written protocol that provides procedures for how the Catawba-Wateree Hydroelectric Project will be operated by Duke Energy, as well as water withdrawal reduction measures and goals for other water users, during periods of low inflow (i.e., drought conditions). Click here to read the current LIP, approved in January 2019: Low Inflow Protocol for the Catawba-Wateree Project.