ðə lˈeɪk wʌz kɹiːˈeɪɾᵻd baɪ ɪmpˈaʊndɪŋ ðə pˈiː dˈiː ɹˈɪvɚ, wˌɪtʃ ɪz kɹiːˈeɪɾᵻd baɪ ðə kˈɑːnfluːəns ʌvðə jˈædkɪn ɹˈɪvɚ ænd ðɪ ˈʌwæɹi ɹˈɪvɚ sˈɛvɹəl mˈaɪlz tə ðə nˈɔːɹθ.
The lake was created by impounding the Pee Dee River, which is created by the confluence of the Yadkin River and the Uwharrie River several miles to the north.