Opposition grows to new rule change for Person County lake

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Residents of Person County, North Carolina are opposing a new rule change by Duke Energy that would require the removal of pontoon boats used as floating docks on Mayo Lake, a popular 3,000-acre reservoir owned by the utility company. Property owners say the removal of the pontoons will negatively impact their property values, and the Person County Commissioners have passed a resolution opposing the ban and supporting a possible solution.

Why it matters

Mayo Lake has been a recreational hub for fishing, boating, swimming, and camping for decades. The use of pontoon boats as makeshift docks has been a common practice since the 1990s, and removing them could significantly disrupt the lake's usage and appeal for local homeowners and visitors.

The details

Duke Energy, which owns Mayo Lake, is asking the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to enforce a rule that has been in place since the lake opened in 1978, which prohibits permanent docks. However, property owners have been using converted pontoon boats as docks since the 1990s. Now, Duke Energy is saying those pontoons must be removed, which has sparked backlash from the community.

• Duke Energy opened Mayo Lake in 1978.
• Pontoon boat docks have been used on Mayo Lake since the late 1990s.
• Duke Energy recently notified property owners that the pontoon boat docks must be removed.
• Person County Commissioners passed a resolution opposing the ban on March 21, 2026.
• A town hall meeting was scheduled for Saturday, March 29, 2026 to discuss the issue.

What’s next

Duke Energy and local officials will hold stakeholder meetings starting on April 15, 2026 to discuss concerns and try to find a resolution that allows the pontoon boat docks to remain on Mayo Lake.