Exclusive: Lake Lure Meeting Canceled, USACE Confirms Progress on Restoration Project

The town of Lake Lure canceled a special meeting on Friday just two hours before it was scheduled, leaving unanswered questions about the status of the federally funded lake restoration project.

Here’s what is known:

• AshBritt, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) prime contractor, has reportedly laid off most of its subcontractors this week. Sources driving by the site on Friday observed only one bulldozer in operation.

  
  

• The Town of Lake Lure issued a statement framing the slowdown as a “temporary evaluation” while FEMA and USACE assess costs and remaining work. The statement did not mention the subcontractor layoffs.

  
  

In contrast, Dave Connolly, Chief of Public Affairs for USACE’s Wilmington District, provided WCAB News with specific details about the project’s status in an email on Friday: 

“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, working under a FEMA mission assignment, is nearing completion of its emergency response work in the Town of Lake Lure. Our contractors have transitioned from excavating and hauling from the lake. We are now working on final condition surveys of the lake to provide direction to our contractor on remaining priorities for removal and restoration. This transition is NOT due to a government shutdown. To date, USACE teams have removed more than 1.2 million tons of debris from the lake. All work is expected to conclude on or about 31 Oct, 2025.”

The Lake Lure project began after Hurricane Helene’s flooding on September 27, 2024, which carried tons of debris from the Broad River and its tributaries into the lake. Federal assistance through FEMA and work managed by USACE has been key to removing sediment and restoring infrastructure.

For now, the project continues under USACE oversight, while the town’s communication focuses on evaluation and monitoring rather than operational specifics.

Here is the town's full statement issued Friday afternoon titled “Town of Lake Lure Update Regarding FEMA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Involvement in Lake Restoration Project."

“The Town of Lake Lure recently published a timeline for projects required to reopen Lake Lure in 2026. The timeline is based on the completion of the restoration of the lake by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) through Direct Federal Assistance which must be approved and funded by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). As we near completion of this essential recovery project, the Town remains committed to working with federal leaders to ensure project completion. Currently, the Town has not received any official confirmation from FEMA or USACE on the final date for completion of the project.

Town officials are also actively communicating with state and federal representatives to ensure that FEMA and USACE remain involved in the completion of this critical project. These representatives are fervently advocating on the Town’s behalf to secure continued federal partnership and support for ongoing work to restore Lake Lure. The Town has learned that there may be a temporary slowdown in operations while FEMA and USACE evaluate the costs and remaining scope of work necessary to complete the project. This shift does not indicate a conclusion of the project at this time.

The Town had scheduled a special meeting for 3:30 p.m. today to discuss this matter; however, in light of recent confirmation that project operations are under evaluation, the meeting has been cancelled. Holding the meeting at this time would be premature until we have more information; however, when the Town receives any official notification regarding a change in FEMA or USACE’s role or participation, the public will be promptly informed.

The Town of Lake Lure is steadfast in its commitment to transparency, collaboration, and the successful completion of the Lake Restoration Project. Town officials remain encouraged by ongoing communication with state and federal partners and are optimistic that FEMA and USACE will continue their involvement through the project’s completion.”