By admin 
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — If you’re heading to the lake this holiday weekend, take it slow. Water levels across central North Carolina are well below normal because of the ongoing drought.
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A man enjoying a day on the water with his family at Falls Lake on Thursday, Tom, spoke with CBS 17 about the lake’s conditions. Tom said the day’s been spent on their deck boat, where they ski, tube, and fish.
“We won’t come out on regular weekends. I always come during the week, and holiday weekends are going to be utter misery,” Tom said.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Fourth of July weekend is typically the busiest for boating at Falls Lake. But this year, the lake looks different.
“Low, low. It’s you know, this drought definitely has brought it down,” said Bryson Crews, who also took his boat out Thursday.
The drought’s impact is hard to miss. Shorelines have pushed farther out.
Data from the Corps of Engineers said the lake is more than five and a half feet lower than normal. We took up our drone, SkyEye 17, which showed channels on the north end entirely dried up.
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Crews said he keeps an eye out for things on his boat’s navigation system. “You know, a lot of your old structure and stuff is now visible. So, with the hot heat, fish like to go deep. So, we look for rock piles, you know, layovers, anything that we can kind of find under the water.”
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recommends boaters watch out for the tree stumps, shoaling and sand bars.
If you’re boating in the cheek road area, or in any coves, be extra careful.
“This is the lowest we’ve ever seen it down, especially when you go on the other side. There you can see, you know, all the stumps sticking up. So that’s, you know, always, always a worry, you know, that’s pretty deep in the channel, in the center,” said Tom.
It’s not just Falls Lake seeing lower levels.
Corps of Engineers data shows Jordan Lake is nearly three feet below normal, while Kerr Lake is three and a half feet below normal.
The Army Corps of Engineers said all boat ramps are open at Falls Lake, but some lanes might be closed.