Hope Mills residents weigh in on new dam

Hope Mills, N.C. — Hope Mills officials met with residents Wednesday night to discuss the newly reconstructed dam at Hope Mills Lake.

About 150 people attended the meeting with Mayor Eddie Dees and an engineer who designed the lake. Residents who live around the lake voiced concerns about the restored lake being lower than before, saying it will have a big impact on docks and swimming areas.

Torrential rains on Memorial Day 2003 washed away the lake's earthen dam, and the town spent years trying to finance a new dam. Construction of a $9.8 million concrete dam was completed earlier this year, and the town began refilling the lake in June. The lake was filled up last month when the remnants of Tropical Storm Fay dumped rain in the area.

At 750 feet long, the new, zig-zagging dam is 600 feet longer than the old one to meet regulations for holding back the lake's water.

The engineer said Wednesday there were safety and monetary concerns about putting the lake back exactly where it was.