Despite Sunny Weekend, Eastern Wake Still Under Water

RALEIGH — For most of us, the rains of January and early February are just a distant memory. But not for residents of a neighborhood in eastern Wake County.

To lower the level at Fall's Lake, the Army Corps of Engineers is releasing water into the Neuse River at levels close to those after Hurricane Fran. Because of that, several residents in the River's Bend subdivision are using canoes to get to their houses.

Resident Alex Hawkins says the river is at the second highest level he's experienced since living in the neighborhood. For builders, the water is much more than an inconvenience. Their latest project is surrounded with only the deadline just two weeks away.

Developer Russell Stoutt says a family is supposed to move in on March 15th. Stoutt and others believe the Army Corps of Engineers is releasing too much water too quickly. The Corps insists that the release is necessary to lower Falls Lake during a relatively dry time.

Many neighbors agree. They would rather have water on the streets now at controllable levels than a dam upstream that's too full to manage.

The Corps expects to back off on the water by Wednesday. They expect levels to come down shortly after that.