Citation methodology

Source hierarchy

We prefer primary sources in this order: the operating utility (Duke Energy) and Charlotte Water for the reservoir itself; county GIS, assessor, and permitting offices for parcel and regulatory facts; state agencies (NC DEQ, NC Wildlife Resources Commission, NC DPI) for environmental, recreational, and school data; and municipal governments for local services. Aggregators and listing portals are never treated as primary.

Citations

Every published answer in our question-and-answer sections carries a visible link to the authority that supports it, and the same citation appears in the page's structured data. If we cannot source a claim, we do not publish it as a fact.

Numbers and ranges

Acreage, shoreline length, and elevation are reported as commonly published by the operating utility and public agencies. Market ranges are described as observed conditions, clearly framed as estimates, and paired with a recommendation to verify against current data.

Review cadence

Regulatory and school content is reviewed at least annually and after any known rule change. Market commentary is reviewed more frequently. Pages carry publication and modification dates in their structured data.

Corrections

Send corrections through the contact page. Substantive errors are fixed promptly and, where the change is material, noted on the page.

Independence

We disclose our commercial relationships on the advertising disclosure page and write market guidance independently of them.