Lake Drawdowns - Working on the Lake

Need to Know Facts Before Starting Work During Lake Drawdowns

Generally, all work within the lake boundary (995 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL)) will require permits from the Town of Lake Lure. Additional permitting from the North Carolina Division of Water Resources (DWQ) and/or U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and/or Rutherford County Building Inspections is likely to be required from any work below the shoreline (990.5 feet MSL).

State and federal permits, if required, shall precede and accompany town applications, as required.  Property owners and/or contractors are responsible for getting permits from the county, state, and federal agencies, as appropriate. The Town does not provide these services.

Please be advised: State and federal review times might exceed the lake draw-down period.  It is recommended that permits are submitted to these authorities as early as possible.  The following is a quick reference:

Seawalls/ Bulkheads/Shoreline Stabilization will require:

  1. 401 Water Quality Certification from NC Division of Water Resources.
  2. Town of Lake Lure Lake Structure Permit/Town of Lake Lure Shoreline Stabilization Permit (as applicable) and all accompanying documentation. (Site plan, engineered drawings, etc.)
  3. Compliance with Trout Buffer regulations or variance, either granted or under review from the State of North Carolina.
  4. Reference to US Army Corps of Engineers General (Regional) Permit 198200030 (RGP30) to assure work is within the scope of the Regional Permit.
  5. Town of Lake Lure Floodplain Development Permit Boathouses/ Docks/ and other Lake Structures:
    • 401 WQC from NC DWR (unless only using driven pressure-treated wood pilings for footing support of boathouse/ dock construction).
    • Town of Lake Lure Lake Structure Permit and all accompanying documentation. (Site plan, engineered drawings, etc.
    • Compliance with Trout Buffer regulations or variance, either granted or under review from the State of North Carolina.
    • Reference to USACE RGP30 to assure work is within the scope of the Regional Permit.
    • Town of Lake Lure Floodplain Development Permit.

Private Utilities Repair/Maintenance: Check with Town Staff, especially if working with private sewer distribution lines utilizing Town manholes (such may require additional permitting from the State).

For more information, please look below.

Typically, the Town lowers the lake on a three-year cycle for one primary reason: To allow lakefront property owners the opportunity to repair and maintain lake structures, particularly seawalls. 

Most lake structure work can be done with the lake up and most contractors would rather build boathouses and docks that way. However, certain types of shoreline stabilization work, such as seawall installation and repairs, generally have to wait until the water is down in order to be in compliance with state and federal environmental regulations.

Because seawall repairs can be a costly project, many lakefront property owners use the time between lake drawdowns to save money for their projects.  The Town’s regulations require that all lake structures, including seawalls, be maintained in a good state of repair.

Given the age of the lake and its various seawalls and lake structures, many were originally built without the benefit of any engineering. Time and the erosive forces of wind and water cause failures that must be repaired. Property owners only get the opportunity to make those repairs every three years.

Category: Lake Drawdowns
  • Printer-friendly version