LAKE LURE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Storm recovery efforts in Lake Lure reached a major milestone this week with the completion of silt and debris removal at Rumbling Bald, officials announced Monday.

The town of Lake Lure reported that more than 705,000 tons of silt and sediment and 95,000 cubic yards of debris have been cleared from the lake since recovery operations began last year after Tropical Storm Helene swamped the area. Crews removed more than 62,500 tons of silt and 2,200 cubic yards of debris in just the past week, according to town officials.

“Silt and debris removal in Lake Lure at Rumbling Bald is complete!” the town said in a statement. “This is a major milestone, and we could not thank the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), AshBritt Environmental, and the many local contractors who have worked tirelessly to achieve this significant step forward in our storm recovery.”

While dredging and removal work is now complete at Rumbling Bald, cleanup continues at other locations around the lake, including Morse Park and Firefly Cove.

The project, which began after the storm in September 2024, is being led by the Army Corps of Engineers, which is using drones and LiDAR technology to identify submerged debris such as docks and sunken boats. A 3D hydrographic map of the lake bottom has also been created to guide the effort.

The lake remains a federal work site and is closed to all unauthorized personnel.

Where the debris goes:

  • Contaminated sand and construction debris are being transported to the Republic Landfill in Union County, South Carolina.
  • Vegetative material is processed near the Lake Lure Fire Department and then hauled to a landfill in Canton.

Officials say lake levels are at historic lows, currently around 960.5 feet above mean sea level — the lowest since the lake was constructed in the 1920s. The new reservoir drain, completed in April, allows for deeper drawdowns beyond the typical limits of the Tainter gates.

Work is expected to continue through the summer, with no set timeline for refilling the lake. In the meantime, town engineers are conducting dam and sewer system inspections during the low-water period.