Historic Great Falls of the Catawba, now dry, diverted for hydro power to run Mills in 1907. In the foreground is the village of Great Falls, once a prosperous textile town, now all three mills are closed, demolished or burnt. As part of Duke Energy's hydro re-licesning, Duke will release water through the dry river channel just below center left( in the photo) for whitewater kayaking. Great Falls wants to re-invent itself as an outdoor adventure destination. The forested shores of the reservoirs formed by the several dams have been protected by the Katawba Valley Land Trust and will be a wilderness state park.