Overview
High Rock Lake is a 15,180-acre reservoir on the Yadkin River in Davidson, Rowan, and Davie counties in central North Carolina. Completed in 1927 by the Tallassee Power Company (a subsidiary of Alcoa) to power the Badin aluminum works downstream, it is the largest and most upstream of the four Yadkin Project reservoirs and has been owned and operated by Cube Hydro Carolinas since 2016.
With about 360 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth near 59 feet at the dam, High Rock is a broad, fertile Piedmont lake fed by the Yadkin River, the South Yadkin River, and Abbotts Creek. Its many coves, flats, and long tributary arms create a warm, productive environment, though the pool can be drawn down seasonally and during dry periods for power generation and downstream flows.
High Rock is a nationally recognized bass-fishing lake, known for largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, and white perch, and it has hosted major tournaments. Fisheries are managed by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, and Cube public access areas, marinas, and boat ramps serve the lake.
Water levels on High Rock Lake are managed by Cube Hydro Carolinas under its FERC license and are reported on the Yadkin Project datum, where full pond is 655.0 feet (about 623.9 feet on USGS datum). Because it is the storage reservoir at the head of the Yadkin chain above Badin Lake, its level can fluctuate substantially with rainfall, drought, and generation, so monitoring current lake levels is important for boating, fishing, and dock access.
Current Conditions
Highrock Lake is currently 1.58 feet below full pool and has been falling over the past week.
- 7-day trendFallingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeDown 0.98 ft
- 30-day changeUp 1.26 ft
- Drought conditionsAbnormally Dry
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Highrock Lake is a 15,180-acre reservoir on the Yadkin River (and Abbotts Creek managed by Cube Hydro Carolinas (Yadkin Project).