Photo Credit: Kim Oberle, Outdoor Recreation, City Lakes
In the fall of 2013, the Durham Parks and Recreation (DPR) Outdoor Recreation unit in N.C. became responsible for Durham Lakes—two bodies of water in northern Durham County: Lake Michie, a 480-acre lake fed by the Flat River, and Little River Reservoir, a 1,158-acre lake fed by the Little River. Each of these lakes is highly treasured by the community, and both are hidden gems for people living in the city and surrounding areas.
The lakes are open four days per week—Friday through Monday—from mid-March to mid-November. Lake Michie, which runs shallow with numerous inlets to explore, draws bass fishermen from all over North Carolina, southern Virginia, and South Carolina. Little River, with its cool, deep channels (the main channel is 80 feet deep), brings in the crappie and bass-fishing crowd.
When the Outdoor Recreation unit assumed management of the lakes upon the retirement of the previous manager from DPR’s Cultural Heritage unit, it was a natural fit. Outdoor Recreation staff members are passionate about the lakes and use them often for canoe and kayak programs, as well as for family fishing events.