Historically, the Catawba was a dividing line between the Cherokee and Catawba Indian Nations. According to a treaty after a great war between the two cultures long before Europeans set foot on the American continent, all land between the Catawba and Broad rivers was designated as a shared hunting ground. Permanent settlements by either tribe was prohibited between the two rivers in order to avoid further conflict and bloodshed. The river is vastly different from the days when the people of the river hunted her valleys and fished her tributaries. Impounded 11 times, the Catawba is one of America's most dammed rivers.
Anadromous fish can no longer migrate from the sea.
Sadly, only the headwaters region of this ancient peidmont river remains in its natural state, unimpeded and free flowing. In over 225 miles of the river's course there are only two small riverine sections. The rest of this once free and beautiful river is covered by reservoirs. In order from the first to the last, they are Lake James, Lake Rhodhiss, Lake Hickory, Lookout Shoals Lake, Lake Norman, Mountain Island Lake, Lake Wylie, Fishing Creek Lake, Great Falls Lake, Rocky Creek Lake and Lake Wateree. The dams have operated under a fifty year license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission since 1958.