The Lake Lure dam in western North Carolina overtopped due to Hurricane Helene causing evacuations and concerns about potential failure of the Walters Dam in Tennessee. Lake Lure dam is at imminent risk of failure and could impact downstream communities as well as towns in South Carolina. The 124-foot tall hydroelectric dam has a maximum storage capacity of 44,914 acre-feet. The dam was described as in “fair” condition as of a March 2023 inspection. Plans were in place to replace the aging dam with funding from grants and the state of North Carolina. The town had lowered the water level in the lake earlier in the year for infrastructure replacement and installed an emergency preparedness feature.
Confusion arose in Newport, Tennessee, after false statements about the supposed failure of the Walters Dam were made, leading to evacuations. The Pigeon River downstream of the dam experienced major flooding. America’s aging dams are a concern, with many needing costly restoration. From 2013 to 2023, 283 dams in the U.S. experienced failures, highlighting the urgent need for infrastructure improvements to ensure public safety.
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