page_title: High Rock Lake
section_title: Residential Restrictions
hierarchical_section_title: High Rock Lake / Residential Restrictions
caption_attribution_description: English: Cove and typical mixed neighborhood of Abbotts Creek part of High Rock Lake
context_page_description: High Rock Lake is a reservoir located on the Yadkin River in central North Carolina in the counties of Davidson and Rowan. Built in 1926-27 by the Tallassee Power Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Aluminum Company of America, the lake is the northernmost of a series of four hydroelectric projects designed at the time to support the company’s Badin Works, a large aluminum smelting operation located 16 miles downstream in the community of Badin. After the permanent closing of the Badin Works in 2007, Alcoa continued to operate its Yadkin hydroelectric facilities until selling them to Cube Hydro Carolinas in 2016.
  At the time of construction, High Rock was the largest reservoir in North Carolina and one of the largest in the United States. When full, its surface covers 15,180 acres with 360 miles of shoreline and is 59 feet deep at the dam. Normal pool elevation is 624 feet above sea level. Upstream, the Yadkin River drains 4341 square miles of the land area of North Carolina’s northwest piedmont.
  The dam was built in a small gorge formed where the river cuts through a major ridge of the Uwharrie Mountains.
context_section_description: Much of High Rock Lake is lined with privately owned homes, representing all income levels. Prior to 2008, Alcoa had required that all new homes have 8 feet (2.4 m) of water when at full pond and have 200 feet (61 m) of lake frontage before a private pier permit is issued. Boat ramps and boathouses are no longer allowed to be built, although existing structures that are maintained are grandfathered. Retaining walls at the high water mark are only allowed in extreme cases, although existing structures can be maintained. Private piers are required to be of a floating style, allowing them to be usable even with lowered water levels. The new 38 year FERC License allows greater flexibility to add roof structures over many existing piers and modifying pier sizes, as well as a few other changes that offer somewhat more flexibility to existing lake front home owners.
caption: Typical neighborhood. Homes span all sizes and types.
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