Sep. 7--Recreational enthusiasts are excited about opportunities being proposed along the Catawba River and Lake Wylie as Duke Power works to renew its license.

Additional fishing piers. A new campground. More restrooms and parking. Scheduled water releases for canoeists and kayakers.

Kevin Colburn, an avid kayaker and member of the American Whitewater river conservation group, is on the committee researching the proposals.

"It's very exciting from a recreationist's perspective, because you work really hard for four or five years and you get to reap the benefits for the next 40 years," he said.

Duke Power is renewing its license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to operate the Catawba-Wateree Project. The original license was in 1958, as Duke Power was building the 11th and largest reservoir on the Catawba River: Lake Norman.

To continue operating the project, Duke Power must consider power and other benefits such as water quality, recreation, fish and wildlife and wildlife habitat enhancement and protection. In February 2003, Duke Power formally initiated the re-licensing process. The final agreement is expected to be complete in April, said Duke Power spokesman Rick Rhodes.

Among the biggest proposals is to expand the Allison Creek access point off S.C. 274 by 48 acres and develop an RV campground, which could be leased to York County. It would include a bathhouse, picnic shelters and a dump station.

New restrooms are planned at the Buster Boyd Bridge access. And a 1-acre access point for lake patrol would provide emergency access for law enforcement and rescue officials, Rhodes said.

"If you had an accident, like a fire on a boat or a collision, this would help the law enforcement and emergency management folks to get to the area quicker," he said.

At Nivens Creek, Duke Power is proposing an additional parking lot and fishing pier.

"It gives folks who don't have the means to get out to the lake a place where they can go and fish," Rhodes said.

Soon, people who like to kayak and canoe can go to a Web page or call a toll-free number to find times for special water releases along the Catawba River.

Colburn said the re-licensing process is a great process for the public.

"You get so much bang for your buck as far as the amount of water you can put back into the river, land you can conserve and (picnic) areas you can get built," he said.

"It's just a great way to give a lot back to the public for these projects that have historically been ... run for power generation and not a lot else."