Jack Scheff discusses drought impact on Lake Norman
Jacob (Jack) Scheff, Ph.D., associate professor in UNC Charlotte’s Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences, joined WCNC to discuss how Lake Norman has been impacted by the current drought in the Carolinas.
Lake Norman has dropped about four feet during the months‑long drought, exposing sandbars and rocks that are normally underwater and creating new hazards for peak‑season boaters. Cornelius Police Lake Patrol says low water is causing more navigation issues and has led to closures at several boat ramps.
Scheff attributes the decline to nearly a year of unusually dry weather and says the lake will need sustained, above‑normal rainfall to recover.
“We’ve been in a real dry weather pattern, for the most part, for almost the last year. Since last summer, and then especially since last fall, we just haven’t been getting as much rain as we’re used to seeing,” Scheff said. “We would actually have to have some months in a wet pattern where we are actually getting more rain than normal, or it would just have to be normal for a really long time to get that water level back to where it was.”
Until then, officers urge boaters to slow down, stay aware of changing conditions and use the few open ramps with caution.