GREAT FALLS, SC – Duke Energy officials say they are partnering with South Carolina to create a rapids recreation center that will transform Dearborn Island and increase tourism in Great Falls.
Authorities say the center will complement the existing National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, and they will work with the same designer from the Charlotte center, S2O Design, to create the new state park.
The multi-million dollar project funded by Duke Energy, called Great Falls-Dearborn Development, will include the construction of a pedestrian bridge to the 650-acre island, installation of canoe and kayak launches and transformation of two diversion channels to have class II rapids. class IV.
Officials say HDR Engineering and S2O Design will work together to build the two new diversion channels, with each diversion using notches and locks to control the flow of water.
Officials say the long detour will be about three kilometers long with Class II and III rapids, and the short detour will be almost two kilometers long with Class III and IV rapids for advanced rowers.
More than 100 years ago, officials say the Great Falls-Dearborn Development was created to supply energy to the local community and now, as part of Duke Energy’s new license to manage the Catawba-Wateree Project, they will return water to the two diversion channels in a controlled manner to provide additional habitat for animals and recreational opportunities for the public.
Duke Energy says the construction of the new channels will begin in the second quarter of 2021, with the project expected to be completed in the next two years.