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Catawba County reaffirms law-enforcement jurisdiction across Lake Norman after Lincoln County withdrawal
Summary
The Catawba County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted a joint resolution on May 19, 2025 reiterating that law-enforcement officers with jurisdiction over any part of Lake Norman retain authority across the entire lake and shoreline, in response to Lincoln County's planned withdrawal from the Lake Norman Marine Commission.
The Catawba County Board of Commissioners on May 19, 2025 unanimously adopted a joint resolution reaffirming that law-enforcement officers with territorial jurisdiction over any part of Lake Norman or its shoreline shall, within their subject-matter jurisdiction, have authority to enforce laws across the entire lake and shoreline area.
County Attorney Jodi Stewart introduced the resolution after staff reported that Lincoln County adopted a resolution on May 5, 2025 withdrawing from the Lake Norman Marine Commission effective June 30, 2025, which would dissolve the commission under the enabling act if unchanged. Stewart said the adopted joint resolution (No. 2025-18) reiterates and re-establishes the authority provided by Section 9 (a),(c),(d) of the Act that established the Lake Norman Marine Commission in 1969.
Commissioner Barbara G. Beatty moved to adopt the joint resolution; the motion carried unanimously. The resolution directs the Clerk to forward a copy to the governing bodies of Iredell, Lincoln and Mecklenburg counties. The packet notes staff are monitoring pending state legislation (S697) that would reconstitute the Lake Norman Marine Commission with a revised governance structure and authorities.
The Board's action restates existing intercounty jurisdictional arrangements, and is framed in the packet as a temporary measure to ensure continued law-enforcement presence on Lake Norman and its shoreline while member counties work through the commission's winding-down processes and any legislative developments.
