Opposition grows to new rule change for Person County lake

ROXBORO, N.C. (WTVD) -- There's growing opposition in Person County about a new rule change for Mayo Lake.

The nearly 3,000-acre reservoir just below the border with Virginia is owned by Duke Energy.

It's a popular spot for fishing, boating, swimming and camping.

Permanent docks are not permitted on the lake, but since the 1990s, lake property owners have used converted pontoon boats to act as docks.

But now, decades later, Duke Energy says the pontoons must go.

The utility company is asking the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to enforce the rule, which has been in place since the lake opened in 1978.

Property owners say the removal of the pontoons will affect their property values.

"We're going to start stakeholders meetings April 15 and hopefully meet every couple weeks and discuss everyone's concerns and hopefully come up with a resolution to this that Duke can feel comfortable with that they're in compliance with their obligations," said Dr. Dan Phillips, a Mayo Lake resident. "Hopefully, we can keep these floating platforms in the water. Most of them have been in the water since the late '90s, many of them."

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Person County Commissioners have passed a resolution opposing the ban and in support of a possible solution.

A town hall meeting was scheduled for Saturday morning at Florence Avenue Baptist Church in Roxboro.

Duke Energy responded with a statement to ABC11.

"Recently, there has been a need to evaluate conditions of Mayo Lake to ensure requirements of Duke Energy's permit for the lake are upheld. We are conducting constructive conversations with property owners adjoining Mayo Lake and the Person County Commission to identify solutions that preserve the unique nature of Mayo Lake while also ensuring we honor our environmental commitments."