Lake Lure officials seek 'legal authority' for Firefly Cove

Town wants access to clean a 'clogged basin' as wastewater projects advance; public comments on proposed state consent-order NCDEQ amendment are due Nov. 2.

Firefly Cove residents reported a stream overflowing during moderate rainfall in several storms following Hurricane Helene, while Lake Lure officials said they are seeking access to clean a clogged upstream sedimentation basin.

The concerns appear in the town’s summary of its Oct. 20 and Oct. 22 round table meetings, alongside updates on sewer replacement and a new wastewater treatment plant.

“Firefly Cove residents expressed concerns regarding increased stream velocity, higher water levels, and erosion following Hurricane Helene. Residents reported that the stream is leaving its banks during moderate rainfall and that debris and sediment continue to flow into the lake,” the town's meeting summary said.

“Town Manager Stewman advised that the Town has identified clogged or failed upstream sedimentation basins as a contributing concern,” the published summary said.

“Approximately 42 streams flow into the lake, and the basin above Firefly Cove was reported to be clogged and nonfunctional,” according to the town's meeting summary.

The town says obtaining access to private property is the next step.

“The Town is seeking property owner permission or legal authority to access and clean the basin,” the summary said.

The summary did not identify the access arrangement being pursued, when permission was requested or when cleanup could begin. It also does not say if property owners have refused access or establish that cleaning the basin would resolve all the flooding and erosion residents described.

Property access also affected Boys Camp Road bridge

The summary connects property access to delays on another project serving Firefly Cove: the Boys Camp Road bridge.

“Property access issues have delayed other recovery projects, including approximately one year of delays for the Boys Camp Bridge project,” the summary said.

The bridge provides access to Firefly Cove. Helene destroyed the crossing, and the town established temporary access while pursuing a permanent replacement.

A separate town explanation identifies survey delays, right-of-way discrepancies, federal environmental and historic preservation review, and easement negotiations among the obstacles. The town says it modified the project approach when an easement needed for construction could not be obtained from one affected owner.

For the Firefly Cove basin, the October summary does not specify whether the town needs an easement, land acquisition or another access agreement. The timing of that process and the proposed cleanup remains unresolved in the published account.

Lake water continues entering the sewer system

The same summary describes ongoing repairs and replacement work involving the sewer collection system and wastewater treatment plant.

“The Town has worked with DEQ since 2020 to develop a new perimeter sewer system to replace inaccessible lake-bottom lines,” the summary said.

“Hurricane Helene damaged major sections of the system west of Morse Park, and repairs are being completed in phases,” the summary said.

The town identified continuing infiltration issues.

“The existing facility is receiving substantially more lake water than normal sewage flow due to infiltration into the sewer system,” the summary said.

“Work is also underway to install a pipe across the dam to connect the north-side sewer system to the south-side wastewater treatment facilities. Lake inflow continues to exceed the wastewater treatment plant’s permitted discharge capacity,” the summary said.

The account does not quantify those exceedances or establish the amount of any untreated sewage discharge.

“Damaged sections of the century-old system are expected to be disconnected during the winter lake drawdown,” the summary said.

Treatment plant design advances

The town reports progress toward a replacement wastewater treatment plant above the existing facility.

“Approximately 70% of the design has been submitted to the Town for review, with final design targeted for January, followed by submission to DEQ,” the summary said.

“The site will require significant grading and retaining-wall construction due to the steep terrain,” the summary said. “The treatment plant plan is due to DEQ by March."

The account also identifies a contracting requirement.

“The advanced site package is expected to establish a buildable area, and the Town must enter into a construction contract for this work within approximately 18 months,” the summary said.

The proposed facility would include room for expansion.

“The new plant is designed to treat 1 million gallons per day, with space reserved for an additional treatment train to increase capacity to 1.5 million gallons per day,” the summary said.

“Construction schedules for the sewer system and treatment plant may vary depending on funding availability and lake drawdown requirements,” the summary said.

Funding and construction deadlines

The summary describes current funding and continued efforts to obtain assistance.

“Current collection-system funding is approximately $71.5 million, with an additional $25.7 million in grant opportunities covering sewer collection and treatment plant work,” the summary said. “Construction is being completed in phases as funding becomes available."

The sewer connection across the dam has a separate funding deadline.

“The dam connection project is supported by ARPA funding subject to a December 31, 2026, spending deadline,” the summary said.

For Firefly Cove, the published account identifies the proposed basin cleanup but provides no completion target.

Public comments due Nov. 2

As previously reported, Nov. 2 is the deadline for public comments to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) on a proposed consent-order amendment covering Lake Lure’s wastewater treatment plant and collection system. It is a comment deadline, not a public meeting.

The state notice identifies Special Order by Consent No. S20-004 and permits NC0025381 and WQCS00131. The amendment remains a proposal during the public comment process.

The town’s October account documents progress on wastewater projects while leaving other milestones unresolved, including access to the Firefly Cove basin, a cleanup schedule and construction timing dependent on funding and regulatory review.

The unfinished recovery work will carry into the next administration. In the Nov. 3 election, Mayor Carol Pritchett faces write-in challengers Kathy Tanner and John Edmonds Kozma. Four candidates are competing for two Town Council seats: incumbent Jim Proctor, Friedrich Jaeger-Faber, Dave Lusk and Richard Sayles.

Pritchett lives in Firefly Cove, and Proctor lives near it, according to public records.

Those elected will help oversee infrastructure spending, recovery priorities, and public reporting on the work still ahead.