Jordan Lake Recreational Area

B. Everett Jordan Dam and Lake is located near the geographical center of North Carolina with much of the state's population living within a 75-mile radius of the project. The Jordan Lake Project preserves 46,768 acres in the midst of an expanding urban area. Of this total, 13,900 acres have been flooded to form the lake and 32,868 acres are being managed for recreation and wildlife management. Jordan Lake has become a major attraction for recreation seekers and a number of facilities have been developed to meet their needs. These include campsites, picnic areas, beaches, boat launching ramps, a marina, and nature trails. The North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation operates the majority of these recreation areas. Recreation facilities are provided by the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation, North Carolina Division of Forest Resources, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. B. Everett Jordan Project, previously known as New Hope Dam, is located on the Haw River in the upper Cape Fear River Basin. The dam is located in Chatham County, NC, about 4.2 river miles above the mouth of the Haw River, 25 miles southwest of Raleigh, NC and 25 miles north of Lillington, NC. The drainage area above Jordan Dam is 1,690 square miles. The B. Everett Jordan Project is authorized for flood control, water supply, water quality, recreation, and fish and wildlife conservation. These are described further below. Jordan Dam is an earthen structure having a top elevation of 266.5 feet, msl and an overall length of 1,330 feet. The height above the streambed is 113 feet. Jordan Lake extends 17.9 miles up the New Hope River and 4.7 miles up the Haw River. The length of the shoreline is about 200 miles. Jordan Lake covers an area of 13,940 acres at elevation 216 feet, msl which is the top of the conservation pool and the normal operating level.