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: