Kerr Lake

Infobox_lake
lake_name = Kerr Lake
image_lake = USACE John H Kerr Dam and Lake.jpg
caption_lake = John H. Kerr Dam and Lake in Mecklenburg County, Virginia
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = North Carolina/Virginia
coords = coord|36|34|16.13|N|78|19|33.59|W|type:waterbody_region:US|display=inline,title
type = reservoir
inflow = Roanoke River, Dan River
outflow = Roanoke River
catchment =
basin_countries = United States
length =
width =
area = 50,000 acres (200 km²)
depth = 30 feet (Average)
max-depth = 100 feet (at J.H.Kerr Dam)
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation = 300 ft (Dead Storage), 310 ft (Power Storage), 320 feet (Flood Storage)
islands =
cities =

Kerr Lake (officially John H. Kerr Reservoir, also known as Bugg's Island Lake by Virginians) is an artificial lake along the border of the U.S. states of North Carolina and Virginia. It was constructed in 1952 to produce electricity and for flood control and is the largest reservoir in Virginia. It is currently owned by the US Army Corps of Engineers. It is located in Vance County, NC, Granville County, NC, Warren County, NC, and Mecklenburg County, VA. At its maximum capacity, it's one of the largest in the Southeastern United States. The lake has over 850 miles of shoreline and covers approximately 50,000 acres (200 km²). The lake is named for Congressman John H. Kerr of North Carolina, who supported the original creation of the lake.

The lake is actually an impoundment of the Roanoke River (also called the Staunton River in Virginia). The Dan River and several smaller creeks also feed the lake. The lake is upstream of Lake Gaston. Just upstream from the current John H. Kerr Dam, and still visible from the viewing platform below the dam at Tailrace park, lies Buggs Island, named for Samuel Bugg, an early settler. During dam construction from 1946-1952, the dam was called the “Buggs Island Project.” Officially the lake is named John H. Kerr Reservoir for the U.S. Senator from North Carolina, a prominent supporter of the project. North Carolinians know this body of water as Kerr (“Karr”) lake. Virginians know it as Buggs Island Lake or Buggs Island Reservoir. The hydroelectric dam is located on the Virginia side of the lake and generates electricity for the Southeastern Power Administration.

The lake is quite large and is wildly popular with both North Carolinians and Virginians for fishing and recreational purposes. For fishing, the lake has an abundance of large-mouth bass, striped bass, crappie, catfish and bream. Camping is also a popular activity, with many campsites (also run by the Army Corps of Engineers) lining the shore including Kimball Point, County Line, Hibernia, and others. Campsites for both tents and RVs are available. Recreational motor boating and sailing also occurs on the lake, with three privately-operated marinas available: Steele Creek and Satterwhite Point [http://www.satterwhitept.com/] (in North Carolina) and Clarksville (in Virginia). These marinas have rental slips for sail and motor boats, with additional amenities including fuel docks, marina stores, and some organized yacht clubs.

ee also

* Kerr Lake State Recreation Area

External links

* [http://www.kerrlake-nc.com/index1.cfm Official Tourism Site]
* [http://epec.saw.usace.army.mil/roankerr.htm John H. Kerr Dam Project (US Army Corps of Engineers)]