Public Records Challenge Lake Lure Mayor Pro Tem Water Quality Claims

Mayor pro tem says lake has "been safe" since Hurricane Helene, public records and scientific data show otherwise.

A new tourism video promoting Lake Lure's recovery from Hurricane Helene is drawing attention for its optimistic message about water quality, while public records show a more complex environmental picture.

In the Facebook reel, published by the Rutherford County Tourism Development Authority (TDA), Lake Lure Mayor Pro Tem David DiOrio tells potential visitors the town is "open for business" and describes the recovery as "amazing."

"We started taking water samples just a few days after that event to see if anything untoward was happening in the lake," DiOrio says. "It's been safe. It's been safe."

However, available public records show the first documented water sample after Hurricane Helene struck on Sept. 27, 2024, was tested on Nov. 11, 2024, more than a month after the storm.

The town has not published water sample test results from its staff or contractors since June 29, 2026, according to the town's website.

DiOrio also says the town has monitored conditions closely since the hurricane and that water quality has remained within acceptable levels, acknowledging that bacteria levels can temporarily increase after heavy rain.

"You may see elevated levels, particularly after a rain event," he says. "That is a normal phenomenon that we see in all of Western North Carolina. It's fleeting. It's brief. It goes through very, very quickly."

Public records support that rainfall can affect bacteria levels, but they also show multiple water samples collected in and around the Lake Lure area have recorded elevated E. coli levels at various times since the storm. Environmental officials say those elevated readings are not unique to Lake Lure and can occur across Western North Carolina when stormwater runoff carries naturally occurring bacteria into rivers and lakes.

Lake Lure's publicly available water quality reports include testing performed by the town and other organizations. Sampling is not conducted on a fixed weekly schedule, and results vary depending on the date, location and environmental conditions when samples are collected.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality also said they do not declare a waterbody "safe" or "unsafe." The NCDEQ said, "When in doubt, stay out."

Instead, the agency says it publishes bacteria monitoring data using state and federal recreational water quality guidelines to help the public understand conditions at the time a sample was collected. Water quality can change rapidly because of rainfall, runoff, wildlife, and other environmental factors. They also ask the public to report incidents.

Recent samples collected on July 15 by NCDEQ were within the recommended recreational state and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines. Previous samples, however, have shown elevated bacteria levels. Several things can cause higher E.Coli levels, according to EPA scientists. 

"E. coli is found in the feces of warm-blooded animals," according to the EPA E.Coli factsheet. "E. coli is considered an indicator organism, used to identify fecal contamination in freshwater and indicate the possible presence of disease-causing bacteria and viruses (pathogens). Individuals who swim or come in contact with water with elevated levels of E. coli and other fecal indicator organisms are at an increased risk of getting sick."

Lee Zelin, the EPA Secretary, visited the lake along with NCDEQ Secretary Reid Wilson in Feb. 2025, and the town did not immediately tell the public.

Public records show 30 propane containers and 12 other hazardous material containers were found and removed from Rutherford County, according to the EPA dashboard, and thousands in western NC.

The tourism video also highlights the extensive federal recovery effort after Hurricane Helene. DiOrio credits the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency with removing debris from the lake and restoring water clarity.

"The residents of Lake Lure know when we look at the lake today, it's better than it's ever been before," DiOrio says.

Federal agencies have completed one of the largest debris removal and sediment cleanup operations in Western North Carolina following the storm, allowing the lake to reopen to recreational users.

Lake Lure officials, for months, prevented people from accessing the riverbank, even adjacent to their own property. The town council passed an ordinance that made it a misdemeanor during the lake drawdown, in part to prevent "unauthorized access" and treasure hunting. 

The lake reopened under a phased approach, with a visit from Governor Josh Stein in May.

While Lake Lure's recovery has been significant, public records show that environmental monitoring continues throughout the Broad River watershed. State officials continue to encourage residents and visitors to review current water quality information before entering lakes and rivers, particularly after significant rainfall.

The TDA's Executive Director, Don Cason, is also the county's Economic Development Director and serves as the Raise the Rock Chairman of the Chimney Rock Task Force. The TDA, created by the NC General Assembly, is funded in large part by tourism revenue.

Just north of Lake Lure, in Chimney Rock Village, officials do not want people to go in the river. The Broad River flows from Buncombe County into Henderson County before reaching Rutherford County, where Chimney Rock and Lake Lure are located. 

Click here to read more about the ongoing coverage of water quality issues from WCAB News.