made a comeback in numbers. Drought management During the 2007-2008 drought, Alcoa sought and obtained permission from the U.S. Government to reduce the output from High Rock Lake from to during the fall, which allowed it to maintain higher lake levels. The 2008 protocols allowed Alcoa to reduce the output at the dam to be equal to the amount of water entering the lake through various creeks and the Yadkin River. While this didn't allow the lake level to rise in dry periods, it prevented rapid decreases in the lake level and helped to maintain a steady waterflow for cities that used water from the river downstream, particularly in South Carolina which has no dams or reservoirs on the Yadkin/Pee Dee river. This had the additional environmental benefit to wildlife that depends on the lakes and river for habitat, as the river flows and lake levels fluctuate less dramatically. Additionally, Alcoa operated the lake using new guidelines that allow for parity in the lake levels of High Rock and Badin, farther downstream. Previously, Badin Lake had to be maintained at a level no lower than below full pond as long as High Rock could provide the water fast enough. New regulations expected to take effect in the new contract due in 2008 would make these temporary measures permanent, reducing the likelihood that High Rock would see lake levels that exceed below full pond again. As a result of the new procedures, High Rock has been kept at near-record highs during late 2007 and early 2008. This was accomplished although the total inflow of water is less than it was during the 2002 drought, demonstrating that the previous conditions were related to both a lack of rainfall and antiquated lake management rules that were agreed to in the 1958 contract. See also Abbotts Creek Alcoa Power Generating Inc. High Rock Lake Association Hydroelectricity Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin References External links Cube Hydro Carolinas High Rock Lake Association Photos of the dam's construction Protected areas of Davidson County, North Carolina Protected areas of Rowan County, North Carolina Reservoirs in North Carolina Droughts in the United States Dams in North Carolina Alcoa Power Generating dams Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin Bodies of water of Davidson County, North Carolina Bodies of water of Rowan County, North Carolina