Lake James is a large reservoir in the mountains of Western North Carolina which straddles the border between Burke and McDowell Counties. It is named for tobacco tycoon and benefactor of Duke University, James Buchanan Duke. The lake, with surface elevation of 1200 ft (366 m), lies behind a series of 4 earthen dams. It was created by Duke Power between 1916-1923 as a hydro-electric project. It still generates power today and is the uppermost lake on the Catawba River system.DevelopmentLake James contains 10.2sqmi of surface area and more than 150mi of shoreline. Housing development on the lake has been considerable since the 1980s, and is concentrated on its southern and eastern shores. Most of the non-developed area around Lake James is owned by Crescent Resources, LLC.In 1999, several bald eagles were found nesting in trees on the northeastern shore of Lake James, stopping housing development in their vicinity. A small species of invasive jellyfish also lives in its waters.1780 and Old Wildlife Club can only have 1 home per 5acre. Roughly 72mi of the 150mi of shoreline will never be developed. These developments include Black Forest, Dry Creek, 1780 and Old Wildlife Club. Black Forest is 600acre and could have included 1200 homesites, but has only 54. Dry Creek is around 400acre and was supposed to have 600 homesites, but has only 64.
