 Carters
Dam impounds about 3,200 surface acres of water with more than 60
miles of shoreline. At 445 feet it is the highest earth-filled dam
east of the Mississippi River. The Reregulation Lake, or Lower Lake,
holds an additional 1,000 surface acres of water. Carters Dam is one
of the few "reverse" dams in the US. The water flows down
pipes inside the mountain to generate power all day. At night, the
generators are reversed and act like huge pumps to send the water
back up to the lake to be used the next day.
Authorized by Congress in 1945, Carters Lake was completed in
1977 after 15 years of construction and the damming of the Coosawattee
River that flows from Tennessee.
At a glance, here are fast facts about Carters Lake:
- 3,220 acres of water
- 62 miles of shoreline
- Created by damming the Coosawattee River
- Authorized by Congress by the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1945
- Construction began in 1962.
- The project was completed in 1977.
- 600,000 visitors per year
- 14 parks and recreation areas that include five campgrounds areas, eight day
use areas and one marina
- Five campgrounds with 164 sites
- One marina with groceries and snack bar, rental cabins, boat rental,
gas dock, boat storage, and pump-out station.
Most Corps of Engineers facilities are handicapped
accessible.
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