| Lake Michie | |
| Coords: | 36.1611°N -78.8417°W |
| Type: | reservoir |
| Outflow: | Flat River |
| Catchment: | 168sqmi |
| Basin Countries: | United States |
| Area: | 480acres |
| Elevation: | 3410NaN0 |
| Cities: | Durham |
| Pushpin Map: | North Carolina#USA |
| Pushpin Map Alt: | Location of Lake Mattamuskeet in North Carolina, USA. |
Lake Michie is a reservoir in central North Carolina, within the Neuse River watershed. The lake is located in northern Durham County near the town of Bahama. Fed principally by the Flat River, Lake Michie is the primary reservoir for the city of Durham. The reservoir dam was completed in 1926.[1]
In addition to retaining drinking water for the city, the concrete and earthwork dam, built between 1924 and 1926, supplied hydroelectric power to Durham until 1960, when the generators were removed.[2]
Lake Michie has Largemouth Bass. Boat rentals are available. Other fish found in the lake include Bull Catfish, Mud Catfish, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Blue Catfish, Chain Pikerel, Longnose Gar, and various others.
In 2004 city officials were considering expanding the lake, which normally supplies Durham with 30e6USgal35e6USgal of drinking water per day to address future water needs and reverse the ongoing reduction in lake volume by sedimentary deposits.[3] [4]
During the drought of 2007, both Lake Michie and the Little River Reservoir, Durham's primary sources of drinking water, were severely affected, despite a reduction in daily water use from 37e6USgal per day to 22.16e6USgal per day.[5] [6] As of 2 December, the lake level had fallen to 151NaN1 below full.[7] By March 2008 Lake Michie was once again filled to overflowing, thanks to above average rainfall.[8]