Dams destroyed by Florence damaged by Debby, but project still on schedule, officials say

BOILING SPRING LAKES, NC (WWAY) — The City of Boiling Spring Lakes reports that its dam projects sustained some damage following Tropical Storm Debbie, but overall, the projects remain on schedule.

According to a news release, the Pine Lake Dam project site experienced the most significant impact, with the upstream cofferdam being lost due to the heavy rainfall. Despite this, the downstream cofferdam remains intact, though it was overtopped by the rising water. Boiling Spring Lakes says contractors plan to repair the damage once water levels drop.

The North Lake and Upper Lake dam project sites also endured the storm, but the city says both sites came through relatively unscathed, requiring only minor cleanup.

The Samford Dam project site encountered problems as the liner protecting the earthen diversion ditch was compromised, leading to erosion along the ditch’s slope. Despite this, the diversion ditch continues to function as intended, with conditions improving hourly.

The city says the contractor is monitoring the situation closely and plans to repair the damage as soon as water levels recede sufficiently. According to city officials, this will not affect the project’s overall schedule.