Mountain Island losing power plant, gaining fish attractors

Mountain Island Lake was created by Duke Power in 1924 with the construction of the dam and, in 1929, with the beginning of operation of the Riverbend Steam Station.

The lake, which covers 2,788 lakes, has 61 miles of shoreline.

Duke Power scheduled the closing of the Riverbend Steam Station, a coal-fired hydroelectric plant, for April 1, 2013. A handful of units of the plant were retired beginning in 1976, then in 1979 and October 2012.

With the help of a local Boy Scout troop, the “Mountain Island Lake Wildlife Stewards” sunk 200 “porcupine” fish attractors on a handful of sites around the lake.

GPS coordinates for the fish attractors are:

• 35.20.44N/80.57.23W;

• 35.21.7N/80.57.17W;

• 35.20.58N/80.56.10W;

• 35.20.49N/80.56.24W;

• 35.20.53N/80.55.44W;

• 35.20.29N/80.55.22W;

• 35.21.36N/80.55.17W;

• 35.20.59N/80.58.35W;

• 35.20.43N/80.57.21W;

• 35.21.54N/80.55.55W.