University Lake
Manmade lake in North Carolina
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
University Lake is a manmade freshwater lake in Carrboro, North Carolina.[1] The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill created the lake in 1932 by building two dams,[2] at the confluence of the Morgan Creek, Phil's Creek, Neville Creek, Price Creek, and Pritchard's Mill Creek.[3] Marshes occur where the creeks meet with the lake, and this serves as environment for wildlife such as various species of waterfowl.[4]
| University Lake | |
|---|---|
  University Lake  University Lake | |
| Location | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Carrboro, North Carolina |
| Coordinates | 35°53′47″N 79°05′39″W |
| Type | Artificial lake/Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Morgan Creek |
| Primary outflows | Phil's Creek, Neville Creek, Price Creek, and Pritchard's Mill Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Managing agency | Orange Water and Sewer Authority |
| Built | 1932 |
| Surface area | 213 acres (86 ha) |
| Water volume | 600,000,000 US gallons (2.3×109 L; 500,000,000 imp gal) |
| Surface elevation | 348 feet (106 m) |
| References | U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: University Lake |
| Location | |
 Interactive map of University Lake | |
It was originally built to act as a water reservoir for UNC's campus,[3] and the neighboring communities of Carrboro and Chapel Hill.[5] Severe droughts in the 1960s and 1970s lowered the water level, and it soon became necessary for a new reservoir to be built to complement University Lake.[6] It was the sole source of water to the Orange Water and Sewer Authority until the Cane Creek Reservoir was built.[7] The lake is open in the summer for public fishing and recreation.[8] The UNC women's rowing team also trains on the lake.[3]
