Lake Michie


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.
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.

Recreational area

Lake Michie offers some of the finest Largemouth Bass fishing in the Piedmont of North Carolina. Rent a boat and motor or launch your own boat for a relaxing day of fishing without the hassles found at larger lakes.
Other fish found in the lake include Bull Catfish, Mud Catfish, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Blue Catfish, Chain Pikerel, Longnose Gar, and various others.

Expansion

In 2004 city officials were considering expanding the lake, which normally supplies Durham with of drinking water per day to address future water needs and reverse the ongoing reduction in lake volume by sedimentary deposits.

2007 drought

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 per day to per day. As of 2 December, the lake level had fallen to below full. By March 2008 Lake Michie was once again filled to overflowing, thanks to above average rainfall.