Town of Lake Lure, 

North Carolina

by H. M. “Chuck” Place III, AICP

For the second summer in a row, there has been a lot of criticism of the town from folks below the dam regarding the lack of water in the river much of the time. A fast flowing river is important for recreational purposes and there are businesses down river which depend on this flow. High water volumes only occur when there is a major rain and when we run the electric generating powerplants. For years, this was not a problem. There was plenty of rain, the plant ran whenever there was sufficient water in the lake, the town made good money selling the electricity that we produced and the was a lot of water down the river to support canoeing, rafting and tubing.

Unfortunately for us all, three things have happened to change things, at least for now. First, Mother Nature and El Nino have conspired to impose near drought conditions on much of the country, including our valley. This has reduced the normal flow of the Broad River and its tributaries. Second, some of the 70-plus year old generating equipment experienced a series of breakdowns, starting with an explosion in an electrical cabinet a year and a half ago. The result was the loss of use of one of the two turbines (meaning that there is no back-up if the other one is down for any reason). Finally, we have a federal mandate to relocate the sewer lift station from its old location at the foot of the dam (in the river bed) to a new point above the flood plane. The interminable process of applying for federal and state permits delayed the start of this project until this summer and we are supposed to have the project done by September 9 before the federal funds run out. (Due to the delays in getting started, we will not be able to meet this deadline and have requested an extension until November.) As much of the construction to this point lies within the river bed, we cannot run the plant while workmen are on the job.

Contrary to what some may believe, we do not purposely restrict the normal flow of the river when we are not operating the hydroelectric plant. We maintain the lake at a near constant level. The same amount of water that runs into the lake flows over the spillway so the volume of water below the dam is the same amount that would flow if the dam did not exist. When we run the power plant, we dump a lot of water through the turbines, greatly increasing the flow downstream. This drops the lake level so we are limited in how much we can run the plant at any one time. We try to run during the daytime for a variety of reasons, particularly because that is when the “peak period” is. This is the period of the day when Duke Power pays the most for the electricity that we generate. We then allow the lake to refill over night. Under normal rainfall conditions, the lake refills fast enough that we can run just about every day. That has not been the case for the past couple of years.

We also use the dam to regulate the downstream flow in times of heavy rains when flooding might occur on the river. We have a satellite link to the weather service and when we determine that a big rainfall is due, we drop the lake level so that we can absorb the extra flow from the upstream river and creeks. On rare occasions, such as in 1996, this is not enough and major flooding occurs, but we do prevent the typical flooding problems that exist on unregulated rivers.

The primary reason the dam was built back in the ‘20's was to create a year-round recreational lake for the residents of the Town of Lake Lure. Secondary benefits were the production of electricity, flood control and downstream recreation. All these functions are important. It is my sincere hope, echoed by our Town Council, that conditions will soon return to normal and we will again be able to establish and maintain a regular operating schedule. This will benefit all of us around the lake.

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MAYOR'S COMMENTS

by Jim Proctor

There have been several reports of low flying airplanes and helicopters in the Lake Lure area. Some of these reports indicated there were aircraft flying only a few feet above the water. If you see any aircraft flying either too low or in a dangerous fashion, please try to identify the aircraft number, color and type. With this information (all or some) call the Asheville office of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at (828) 684-0421. If it is a military aircraft, the FAA should be able to direct your inquiry to the appropriate office. Also, please let me know you contacted the FAA so I can keep a record of incidents reported in Lake Lure. Meanwhile, I will make every effort possible to have the FAA place notes on the local aeronautical charts to remind pilots not to fly planes low in the Lake Lure area.

On another note, my family would like to thank all the firemen and support persons who helped fight the fire at our Pine Gables cabin on the 30^th of July. Your professionalism and courage are greatly appreciated.

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Ron Morgan has been employed with the Town of Lake Lure since December 1994 serving as the Fire and Emergency Coordinator. In addition, he is the town's safety officer. Prior to his employment with Lake Lure, Ron was the Fire Prevention Inspector for the Town of Forest City.

Ron is a certified level III Fire Inspector, and a certified Fire Service Training Instructor. He has a level IV certification in Emergency Management. Ron received an associate degree in Fire Protection Technology from Wilson Technical College in Wilson, North Carolina. He is currently enrolled in a four-year fire safety program at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte. Anytime there is a potential emergency, Ron is in the Lake Lure area around the clock. Thank you Ron for all the hard work.

Welcome employees Rosa Armstrong, Chris Shute and Sean Humphries who have been recently hired by the town. Rosa is a receptionist in the police department and Sean is a police officer. Chris is a manager at the municipal golf course who comes from the Cleghorn Golf Club. The town is fortunate to have these employees on staff.

Congratulations to Deputy Town Clerk Anita Taylor who has been accepted into the second level membership of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks Master Municipal Clerk Academy. In addition, Anita has been appointed by the North Carolina Association of Municipal Clerks to serve as the NCAMC District 11 Director.

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REGULAR MEETING: The regular town council meeting was held on Tuesday, August 8, 2000, at 7:00 p.m. at the Lake Lure Municipal Center.

Under the "consent agenda," Council:

* approved the minutes of July 11, 2000 (regular meeting), and July 20, 2000 (special meeting);

* approved the request from Stanley Long to: (1) hold an annual "run to rock" truck show on town property (Community Center) on September 15-17, 2000, (2) provide a Mayor's choice trophy at the town's expense, (3) suspend the town peddling ordinance (Section 61.01 of the Town Code) in order that food, t-shirts, truck parts, and other items may be sold on site during the show, and (4) suspend the town alcohol ordinance (Section 63.01 of the Town Code) for alcohol consumption at a Friday evening cookout on September 15, 2000; and

* approved budget amendments for the police vehicle grant as submitted by the Finance Director. Increased the police vehicle grant from $49,599 to $63,685 and increased expenditures in the police department by $18,781 ($4,695 will come from contingency to offset the extra expense).

In other activities, Town Council:

* approved a budget amendment of $1,787 for costs of a new town hall boat dock not covered in the original contract;

* approved request from Pediatric Brain Tumor Association for "Ride for Kids" event on August 26, 2001;

* approved amendment to re-form the fund under the Interlocal Cooperation statutes, G.S. 160A-460 through 464. (Ratifying action taken by the Board of Directors of the North Carolina League of Municipalities on June 20, 2000, upon recommendation by the Executive Committee of the RMS Board of Trustees;

* held a discussion regarding the town's street sign policy and approved the replacement of damaged or missing street signs on private roads for a period of six months (this policy will be reviewed at the conclusion of the six month period);

* approved amendment of $3,100 in the golf course budget to provide $1,100 per year travel allowance for the golf course manager and $2,000 to fund the leasing of golf course equipment; and

* approved the allocation of $3,000 to the Parks and Recreation Board to fund a new music event at the Lake Lure pavilion located on Memorial Point.

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by Police Chief Mike Bustle

On August 1, the Lake Lure Police Department received a grant valued at approximately $85,000 for the initiation of a traffic safety unit from the Governor’s highway safety program. This three-year grant will provide two fully outfitted police vehicles with the latest technology in traffic enforcement equipment, traffic management equipment, and educational materials to facilitate traffic safety programs. These funds will help establish the police department's new TS unit whose goal will be to educate drivers about how to reduce accidents on Lake Lure roads.

The overall plan is to integrate the TS unit with the new youth center. This TS unit will offer traffic safety programs at the youth center, as well as, throughout the community in hopes of reducing motor vehicular accidents. This grant requires officers to conduct numerous driving safety seminars to promote driver education and safety.

The combination of a TS unit with a youth center is demonstrates Lake Lure’s Police continuing efforts to establish partnerships with segments of the community. Let us know what you think of our efforts.

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UPPER BROAD RIVER

By Pamela Pyles, Erosion Control Specialist

I have been working on conservation efforts due to the state grant in the Upper Broad River Watershed since the middle of October 1999. The Town of Lake Lure has graciously provided office space, furniture, the use of their office equipment, and other amenities for the benefit of the Upper Broad River Watershed Protection Program. The Town of Lake Lure, Village of Chimney Rock, citizens of the watershed, and government agencies are providing a leading role in proactive efforts for the protection of soil and water quality resources.

It can’t be said enough about the Upper Broad River Watershed being a part of the Broad River Basin which encompasses Lake Lure with three adjoining counties including Rutherford, Henderson, and Buncombe (totaling 94 square miles). Our goals are program promotion and watershed education. Bi-monthly meetings are held with local officials, property owners, contractors, and conservation professionals. We have a volunteer support group consisting of three sub-committees which addressing water quality and education issues. The volunteer water information network provides us with statistical analysis of our water quality. This information is gathered from 14 sediment-sampling stations through out our watershed. Twenty-eight conservation plans have been written to date on the Upper Broad River Cost Share Program totalling $87,428. Property owners who participate in the cost share program will receive a monetary reimbursement after implementing erosion control measures at existing eroding sites. There are detailed conservation plans available outlining erosion control measures which can be used to stabilize eroding sites. Low interest loans are provided to property owners who want to implement erosion control measures at new construction sites. At present, $3,500 have been loaned out of $35,000.

Property owners of stream banks are offered riparian conservation easements including a monetary sum paid to them for maintaining stream bank property as riparian buffers. Plans are underway to begin a riparian survey of stream bank property covering four acres.

The last program offered was stream bank restoration (defined as repairing eroding stream banks and establishing vegetative buffers using bioengineering techniques). At this time, two property owners are being helped with their stream bank property (nearly one mile of stream) needing buffer establishment.

Come to the next Upper Broad River Watershed Protection meeting on September 21, 9:00 a.m., at the Lake Lure Municipal Center. Call Pamela Pyles at the Town of Lake Lure (828) 625-9983 ext. 123 for information about the watershed protection.

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General: Samples were collected on June 26th and July 22nd. There had been light rains prior to the June monitoring and the weather had been dry before the July monitoring. Water levels were reported as normal in June and low in July.

The Broad River watershed: Ten sites are monitored monthly. These include one site each on the Broad River, Hickory Creek, and Reedypatch Creek which all flow into the Rocky Broad River at Bat Cave, two sites on the Rocky Broad River at Chimney Rock and at Lake Lure, and one site each at Pool Creek, Cane Creek, the Public Golf Course Creek, Buffalo Creek, and Fairfield Mountains Creek. All of the latter sites are located just upstream from Lake Lure.

Results from both months show most sites with good to excellent water quality. Turbidity levels were slightly elevated at the Broad River site in Chimney Rock in June and slightly elevated at the Cane Creek site in July. With the exception of Pool Creek, orthophosphate concentrations were somewhat higher to much higher than average at all sites in July. Highest concentrations were from the Broad River site at Lake Lure. Orthophosphate concentrations were also significantly higher in the samples from Lake Lure. Conductivity (chemical salts) levels were quite a bit higher than average for the upper Broad River watershed at the Reedypatch Creek site and even slightly higher than the regional average. Sites in the upper Broad River watershed normally show much lower conductivity levels than most sites in the seven county VWIN monitoring region in Western North Carolina as they generally receive less pollutants (other than sediment) than most area streams.

Recent monitoring for stream sedimentation carried out by the Upper Broad River Watershed Protection Committee shows particularly serious sedimentation in Hemlock Falls Creek (a tributary of the Broad River), Bearwallow Creek (a tributary of Hickory Creek), upper Reedypatch Creek, Cane Creek (which flows into Tryon Bay), and Buffalo Creek upstream from Bald Mountain Lake. Monitoring on lower Flat Creek (a tributary of the Broad River), shows sedimentation has been reduced greatly from levels seen earlier in the year. The result from upper Buffalo Creek shows that Bald Mountain Lake has been keeping a great deal of sediment from entering Lake Lure from Buffalo Creek.

Lake Lure: Four locations on Lake Lure are monitored for temperature and dissolved oxygen at one meter depth intervals. These locations are at the dam, in the main channel, at Buffalo Bay, and at Tryon Bay. A secchi (pronounced seckee) depth is also taken at each of the four locations to measure water clarity (the greater the secchi depth, the clearer the water). The extent of light penetration is approximately twice the secchi depth. The dam and lake center locations are also monitored for phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations at one meter from the surface and one meter from the bottom.

Lake stratification was quite pronounced by June and July. The surface layer (epilimnion) extended down to 4 meters (about 13 feet). Temperatures remained above 26 degrees C (about 79 degrees F) throughout this zone and the water was well saturated with oxygen. Between 4 and 10 meters (about 33 feet) water temperature declined steadily to 10 to 12 degrees C (50-54 degrees F). This layer, known as the thermocline or metalimnion, is where rapid changes in temperature and sometimes oxygen concentrations occur. In June the water remained well oxygenated to the 6 meter level and then declined rapidly between 6 and 8 meters. In July oxygen saturation began to decline below the 4 meter level. However, in both June and July oxygen saturation levels remained higher than they have in previous years up to the 10 meter depth. While average percent saturation at the 10 meter depth has been 38% in July, this year the percent saturation was 48%. So the middle layer of the lake has remained somewhat better oxygenated this year to date. Many fish species require more highly oxygenated water, so this is a good sign.

Below 10 meters, in the layer known as the hypolimnion where waters remain uniformly cool throughout the year, there is little difference in temperature from previous years and oxygen concentrations, while remaining slightly higher than previous years, are still at levels that will not support many fish species.

Secchi depths in June were virtually the same as they were in May at the dam and in the main channel. They were slightly improved in June in Tryon Bay and somewhat worse in Buffalo Bay. In July secchi depths declined considerably at all locations. Where they has been 81 to 83 inches in May and June in the main channel and at the dam, they were 62 and 68 inches in July. Secchi depth in July was worst in Buffalo Bay at 54 inches. In comparison, in July, 1999 secchi depths were 77 and 81 inches in the main channel and at the dam and 68 and 70 inches in Tryon Bay and Buffalo Bay.

by Town Manager H. M. Place III

I am pleased to introduce Chris Shute as the new manager of the Lake Lure Municipal Golf Course. Chris joined the hard working team of Debbie Hayes, Sheila Spicer and Steve Greenlee on August 14.

Chris has been the superintendent of four courses over the past 19 years, including two stints at the Lake Lure Golf and Beach Resort (formerly Fairfield Mountains). He was most recently at Cleghorn in Rutherfordton. His family history is rich in golfing experience, having been involved with the sport for over 200 years. Both his father and uncle are in the history books as PGA pros and Chris learned the business at his father’s own course in Ohio. He is skilled at repairing and maintaining equipment and owns quite a collection of turf equipment that I believe will be useful to us. He is certified to handle and apply pesticides and other hazardous chemicals and has a broad knowledge of grounds maintenance. Most importantly, Chris is energetic, enthusiastic and chock full of ideas on how to improve the appearance and play of our course. I believe he will be a major asset to the town and the financial health of the golf course.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation's annual "Litter Sweep" fall roadside cleanup will take place September 17 through September 30, 2000. Litter Sweep hotline 1-800-331-5864 or website at www.dot.state.nc.us/beautification.

The Lake Lure Republicans are sponsoring a Candidate's night on September 7th, 6:30 p.m., at the Lake Lure Community Hall of the Municipal Center (rear entrance). There will be a light buffet and beverages served. Candidates will speak briefly and answers questions. Everyone is welcome to attend. Contact Carolyn Cobb at 828-625-1831 or Kay Dittmer at 828-625-8529 by September 5th for reservations.

All boat owners are invited to participate in the Lake Lure Grand Parade of Lights on December 2. Join the most colorful Lake Lure event of the Year 2000. Keep reading future newsletters for details about the parade. Call Beth Rose at 828-625-4493 if you are interested in serving on the boat parade committee.

The Church of the Transfiguration, Highway 64-74A in Bat Cave, will hold their annual fall fair on Saturday, September 2, 2000 from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. There will be food, handmade crafts, "new to you" sales, perennials, raffle, home baked goods and more. All proceed will go to a community outreach program. Everyone is invited to attend.

The Chimney Rock Baptist Church will hold worship services on Sundays (May 7 through October 8, 2000), 9:00 a.m., at the Lake Lure Chapel located across from the Lake-View Exxon Store. Come Worship with us!

Preservation Wall, located at 2410 Memorial Highway (beside Freeman Gas), is a new business in Lake Lure. They offer various products and services including: Hunter Douglas Window fashions and shutters, paints (Porter, Duron, and Bob Timberlake), Graco sales, and rent pressure washers and airless sprayers. For more details, call 828-625-1775 (Lake Lure) or 828-697-7747 (Hendersonville).

Lake Lure Newcomers invite those who are new residents in Lake Lure (24 months or less) to join them in various activities which include: potluck, gourmet, out'n about, theater, bridge/poker, book club, and hiking. Anyone interested in becoming a member, call Fred Noble or Jeanine Noble at 828-625-8706.

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For comments about the operations of the Lake Lure Tours, call 828-625-0077.

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Note: The deadline for newsletter articles to be received at Town Hall for the October issue is September 20, 2000.

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