20 Mar 2015 Lake recreation season will begin on March 21
On Saturday, March 21, 2015, University Lake and the Cane Creek Reservoir will reopen for boating, fishing, picnicking and other recreation.
OWASA has designated March 21 as Lightning Brown Day in honor of the late Mr. Brown, a community activist and member of the OWASA Board of Directors in the mid-1990s. Boat rental, launching and lake fees except those for electric trolling motor rentals will be waived on Lightning Brown Day.
Lake recreation days and hours
University Lake | Friday,* Saturday and Sunday |
Cane Creek Reservoir | Friday* and Saturday |
* The lakes will be closed on Good Friday (April 3). The lakes will be open for the Memorial Day, July Fourth and Labor Day holidays.
Recreation hours are normally 6:30 AM to 6 PM.
Location of OWASA’s lakes
University Lake is on the west side of Carrboro near Jones Ferry Road. The recreation area is at the end of University Lake Drive, which can be reached via Old Fayetteville Road south of Jones Ferry Road.
The Cane Creek Reservoir is about 8 miles west of Carrboro on the north side of NC 54, just west of Stanford Road.
Safety
Lake patrons are encouraged to put safety first. OWASA’s lakes are alcohol-free.
Life jackets are generally available for adults and children, and OWASA does not charge for use of its life jackets. Some people may need to use their own life jackets due to unusual size or other special conditions. Lake users are required to use life jackets under safety rules.
Fees
For OWASA customers and Orange County residents | |
| Canoe and flat-bottom boat rental
Kayak rental
Lake use fee, ages 12-64
Lake use –children under 12
Lake use — seniors 65 and over
Private boat launching
Electric trolling motor rental | $4.50/half day plus lake use fee
$15 plus lake use fee
$4.50/half day
$2/half day
Free
$3.50 per boat plus lake use fee
$15/half day |
Non-Orange County residents | |
| Canoe and flat-bottom boat rental
Kayak rental
Lake use fee, ages 12-64
Lake use –children under 12, seniors 65 and over
Private boat launching
Electric trolling motor rental | $8/half day plus lake use fee
$20 plus lake use fee
$5.50/half day
$2.50/half day
$7 per boat plus lake use fee
$22/half day |
Season passes are available for OWASA customers and Orange County residents. Please click here.
Boating and fishing
OWASA offers kayaks, canoes and flat-bottomed boats for rent.
Citizens may use small private boats if they are brought on a car or in a truck. (Trailers are not allowed due to parking limits.) To help keep aquatic weeds out of the lakes, boats must be cleaned and inspected by OWASA. Aquatic weeds cause problems for fish and water treatment.
To help protect water quality, OWASA allows only electric motors, which are available for rent from OWASA. Private electric motors are also inspected.
University Lake and the Cane Creek Reservoir are stocked with bass, crappie, catfish and a variety of sunfish. A State fishing license is necessary except on July 4th.
Citizens with disabilities will receive assistance from OWASA staff as needed to enjoy boating and using the lake recreation area. University Lake has a fishing pier for people with disabilities. The fishing pier at Cane Creek is under repair and it will reopen later this spring.
Picnicking: Grills and tables are available at both lakes.
Last day of the 2015 lake recreation season: Sunday, November 8.
For more information:
- Ken Loflin, Water Treatment and Supply Manager, 919-537-4232 or kloflin@owasa.org
- Johnny Riley, Senior Lakes Warden, 919-942-5790 or ccreek@owasa.org
- Bob Glosson, Senior Assistant Lake Warden, 919-942-8007 or ulake@owasa.org