The Nottley River of Murphy, North Carolina

Posted by I Love Murphy on

The Nottley River  in Murphy, North Carolina is unique since it a Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) river. It is small and very clean. Nottley Dam is about 4 miles upstream, and development on the river is well managed. This means muddy runoff is not a problem and quickly runs clean after a rain. Despite increasing population on much of the river, most of the riverfront property is amazingly private. It is a great river with lots of opportunity to fish, relax, and even invest in real estate right on the river itself.

Wildlife on Nottley River
Because of the stable climate in the Murphy, NC area,  wildlife is abundant along the banks of the Nottley River. [Click the link for information on each animal provided by Wikipedia]  Beaver and otter are seen in addition to raccoon, opossum, groundhog, turkey, and deer. A gorgeous selection of birds can be seen throughout the year. Indigo buntings stay all summer along with tiny hummingbirds. Goldfinches can be found all year long and put on a beautiful show. Titmouses, bluebirds, house finches, and wrens are here all year along with chickadees. There are many bright red cardinals, which also happen to be the state bird of North Carolina. There are also two kinds nuthatches. Junkos are a nice addition in the winer as well are the geese and ducks that fly into local lakes. There are red-breasted and pileated woodpeckers, and in May, there are even some migrating cedar waxwings.

 

Fishing on Nottley River

For the trout fisherman, the Nottley River has a special interest. It is not stocked, but supports quite a population of wild rainbow trout, which is unique to our area. The spawn is in April. Access to the river is limited and there is little to no pressure of over fishing. Significant hatches of small grey caddis (sizes 16-18) occur in March to April and caddis (all day) and baetis mayflies (sundown) hatch all summer. Use this link for details of water releases from the TVA dams.

What Creates the Nottley River?

The Nottley River flows from Lake Nottley, which is a dam controlled lake formed by the TVA. It flows roughly 40 miles and spills in to Lake Hiwassee in Murphy NC.Murphy NC Area River Basins

Chances of Flooding on the Nottley River

Since Nottley River is dam controlled by the TVA, the chances of flooding are virtually non-existent. It has had extensive flood studies on the surrounding land on the River, and the annual chance of flood hazard is 0.2% chance according to the North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Information System. With less than a 1% chance of flooding, the Nottley River is a very safe river to own real estate on compared to many of the others.

Real Estate on Nottley River

There are a lot of opportunities to own both homes and land with Nottley River frontage. One of best aspects of Nottley is your river property actually runs to the centerline of the river – meaning you actually own part of the river itself.

We have a Nottley River Front development in Murphy NC with several river front lots and all interior lots have river access from the common area. We would be happy to search for both homes and land for you and email them directly to you. Please use our Murphy NC Dream Home Finder and we’ll do the work for you!

You are also welcome to use our Murphy NC and Cherokee County MLS Homes and Land Real Estate Search function to see what’s available right on your computer.

If you’re ready to experience the magic of the [Nottley River of Murphy], we’re here to help you find your dream property! Explore more things to do in Murphy NC and contact us today!

John Poltrock, Certified Residential Specialist – www.MyMurphy.com – Email at JohnPoltrock@gmail.com – Call us Toll-Free at 1-866- Murphy-NC or 1-866-687-7496

Your Order’s Ready! Nottley River Lots Coming Right Up! – A previous post with some of this information

 

US Forest Service Land – A Major Murphy, North Carolina Resource

Posted by I Love Murphy on

The US Forest Service accounts for a tremendous portion of Cherokee County’s landmass. According to the Cherokee County Mapping Department, the forest service operates a whoping 93,169.87 acres of public land in our county alone.

Having so much Forest Service, which is commonly known as the Nantahala Forest, is a huge asset to Murphy. Here are only a few resources available as a direct result of the Forest Service:

  • Free boat launches for your use on Lake Hiwassee (which is almost entirely surrounded by Forest Service)
  • Great picnic area at Cherokee Lake
  • Tellico Plains off-road riding for Jeeps, ATVs, and more
  • Camping areas all over – and a fully equipped Campground in Hanging Dog in Murphy NC
  • Real Estate (both homes and land) with a USFS Boundary. Wouldn’t it be nice to have part of a 93,169.87 acre back yard?  Email me now to find out what real estate is available with a Forest Service Boundary.
  • Hiking
  • Geocaching
  • Horseback Riding

Another advantage is so much Forest Service will limit growth within Cherokee County. With roughly 1/3 of the county being public land, much of it cannot be built on. This will keep much of the natural beauty Murphy has very much alive and intact. It doesn’t take long to figure out why Murphy is still to this day referred to as “God’s Country.”

If you’re excited about living near the [US Forest Service] lands, we’re ready to help! Explore more things to do in Murphy NC and get in touch with us today!

John Poltrock, Murphy NC Realtor – Certified Residential Specialist – www.MyMurphy.com – JohnPoltrock@gmail.com – Call Toll-Free 1-866-687-7496 Today and demand The POLTROCK TEAM!

The Low Water Level of Lake Hiwassee

Posted by I Love Murphy on
One question I have gotten a lot lately is why the water level of Lake Hiwassee in Murphy NC is 30 or more feet low. It makes it incredibly difficult to show lake front property at times like these, unfortunately, it is what it is.

I have heard speculation and confirmed it with several people close to the source (wow – I sound like a reporter!) that there is good reason it is so low. The Hiwassee Dam itself is very unique in the fact that it is capable of reversing the flow of the lake itself and pumping water back into the lake. Apparently, it drains water during the day to produce power. Then at night, it reverses the flow and pumps water back into the lake. As I found out, the dam’s mechanism that reverses the flow is in fact broken! According to sources, It’s due to be repaired sometime in October. It makes it difficult because lake front property doesn’t look the same as usual!

This picture was taken on one of the bridges on Joe Brown Highway. Many of the boat docks are totally unusable and marinas are closed. To add insult to injury, the TVA is also using the water from the Hiwassee to keep the Tennessee River flow up for transportation purposes.

On a positive note, hope for rain and next year will be better! Find the Normal rainfall in Murphy NC. Now’s a great time to be looking at lake property because some sellers might be anxious to move…. hmmm… food for thought!

Understanding the current water level of Lake Hiwassee can help you make smarter buying decisions. While you’re here, explore things to do in Murphy NC and discover the beauty beyond the shoreline.

johnpoltrock@gmail.com – www.iLoveMurphy.com – John Michael Poltrock – REMAX Mountain Properties – Murphy North Carolina, NC – (877) 837-3002 – Real Estate