LAKE LURE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The Lake Lure Town Council approved a proclamation June 10 to formally suspend public access to the lake amid ongoing restoration efforts following damage from Tropical Storm Helene.

Town Clerk Olivia Stewman told council members the ordinance gives the town authority to enforce the lake’s continued closure, citing ongoing safety concerns. Despite previous warnings, residents and visitors have continued to enter the lake by boat, kayak or on foot, she said.

Violations of the suspension will be considered a Class 2 misdemeanor under North Carolina law. The closure does not apply to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractors, approved workers, town staff or government officials. Property owners may remove storm-related debris and sedimentation under their lake structures through July 15 but must follow town guidelines and receive approval for any sediment removal plans.

Lake Advisory Board member and Commissioner Dave DiOrio said the lake’s condition is steadily improving.

There are no current water quality issues, he reported, adding that wildlife such as otters, fish and eagles remain present. The water clarity is almost back to normal.

Storm recovery work continues with the USACE and contractors removing sediment and debris from the lakebed. Stewman said more than 53,000 tons of sediment were removed the first week of June. The town is also working with FEMA and other agencies to secure funding for the ongoing recovery.

To date, six projects have been obligated, and the town anticipates receiving approximately $6.4 million in funding.

Additional updates included:

  • The lost vessel deadline is set for July 1, 2025. Unclaimed vessels will be auctioned.
  • The West End Sewer Project remains on schedule, with boring operations underway this week. Completion is expected by July 10, 2025.
  • The town received a grant to improve a local playground, with a new project timeline extending into October 2025. A community input meeting is scheduled for July 30.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers update

Stewman said the USACE’s personal property debris removal program is expected to begin in the coming weeks.

Crews working to restore Lake Lure have removed a record amount of silt and debris over the past week as part of an extensive lake restoration project led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, town officials announced Saturday.

In coordination with AshBritt Environmental and local contractors, the Wilmington District of the Corps has now removed more than 376,000 tons of sediment and 46,744 cubic yards of debris from the lake. That includes 62,000 tons of sediment cleared in the past week alone — the largest weekly total since the project began.

Officials estimate that volume is equivalent to about 25 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Roughly 140 trucks are in use daily, each hauling an average of 25 tons. Crews are removing an estimated 330 truckloads every day, working 12-hour shifts, seven days a week. The drawdown and cleanup effort is expected to continue through the summer and possibly into the fall, although no firm completion date has been set.

As part of the operation, Lake Lure has been lowered to its lowest level since it was built. Town staff are manually monitoring water levels, as current gauges cannot accurately measure the depth during the drawdown. The lake level is dropping at a rate of 1 to 1.5 feet per day, with a target elevation of 960.5 feet – about 30 feet below full pond — anticipated by the end of this week, depending on weather.

Officials said the lake is a federal job site and is closed to all recreational use, including swimming and boating, for the 2025 season. The lake could remain at a reduced level beyond the current restoration phase to allow for work on subaqueous utilities.

Town staff and engineers are also using the lowered water level to inspect the dam and sewer systems.

This is a critical step in Lake Lure’s long-term recovery, town officials said in a statement.

The public boat ramp at the Lake Lure Dam remains closed to all but official town use. Questions can be directed to the town’s communications office at communications@townoflakelure.com.