To maintain a pristine local resource and a pleasant place to live, a number of issues are addressed and initiatives undertaken by the Friends of Lake Glenville. These issues and the resulting initiatives include interests shared with all local residents such as water quality, lake ecology and environment, lake levels, and law enforcement on and around the lake, as well as property owner issues such as shoreline management, noise, illegal camping, trash and pollution, and relations with the lake owner Duke Energy.

Sponsors

In addition to the Annual Dues paid by members of the Friends of Lake Glenville, certain members donate additional funds to help the general FLG program or to promote a specific initiative.
Property Owner Issues

The Friends of Lake Glenville as an organization and its members as individuals have always maintained a close relationship with the owner of the lake, Duke Energy and Duke’s Lake Manager. Shoreline Management is a frequent topic of discussion among lakeside property owners, Duke Energy, and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

Water Quality

We are fortunate to live in the clean headwaters of a mountain watershed of a temperate rain forest. The water quality is as good as nature can make it. It is extremely difficult to make it better but relatively easy to degrade it. In an attempt to maintain the existing quality or at least be alert to any slippage of its quality, the Friends of Lake Glenville sponsor a water quality program conducted by the University North Carolina-Asheville and FLG member volunteers. For detailed information on this program and its results, please visit the Water Quality pages.

Boating Safety

In recent years, Boating Safety courses conducted by North Carolina Wildlife officers have been offered at venues on or near the lake. Efforts have been made to erect signage around the lake and to distribute pamphlets outlining the elements of Boat Friendly, an FLG initiative for safe boating. In addition to scheduled sessions convenient to the lake, an online safe boating course is offered that is approved by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and recommended for boaters of all ages.

Lake Cleanup

At least one lake cleanup per summer has been sponsored in recent years by the Friends of Lake Glenville, with guidance and assistance from the lake’s owner Duke Energy and the lake manager. Removal of trash and shoreline debris helps maintain the pristine quality that attracts both local residents and lake property owners alike to the lake. View pictures from a recent cleanup.

Legislative Issues

From time to time issues arise around the lake that our members are asked to address and to help resolve. Some issues have led to local and state legislation. An earlier FLG proposal was incorporated into NC State Bill 1209, which addressed Personal Watercraft Safety. This bill was passed by the State Legislature and went into effect at the end of 1999. With a large portion of our membership being Out-of-state Residents and therefore not North Carolina voters and with the Friends of Lake Glenville not being a political organization, members are none-the-less encouraged to get to know their local, county, and state representatives and the issues that relate to these jurisdictions, as they will impact the use and enjoyment of our homes, the lake, and the local infrastructure. Increased property valuation assessments and the resulting increase in property taxes are an example of a current issue.

Relicensing

Duke Energy is seeking to re-license its Nantahala Area hydroelectric projects because current federal operating licenses expired in 2005 and 2006. All the power company’s Tuckasegee River projects are located in Jackson County. Lake Glenville is the cornerstone of the Tuckasegee River Project. As part of the Tuckasegee River Project, Duke Energy submitted a hydropower relicensing request to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in January 2004. When approved, this license will regulate Duke’s operation of its Natahala Area projects and determine the extent of Duke’s control over the Lake Glenville reservoir for the next 40 years. For several years, the Friends of Lake Glenville have been actively working with Duke Energy, local government officials, various state and federal government agencies, NGOs and special interest groups in an effort to preserve and enhance Lake Glenville recreational opportunities and to protect the interests of private property owners around the lake. Updates on this process can be heard at Member Breakfasts during the summer season, by reading current and past FLG newsletters, by going to the Duke Power and FERC web sites, or by asking an FLG Board Member or one of the Stakeholders who participated in the above process.