USACE Marks Completion of Lake Lure Hurricane Helene Recovery Mission

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Town of Lake Lure marked a major milestone on Nov. 18 with a final walk-through at Morse Park, officially closing one of Western North Carolina’s largest debris-removal missions in history following Hurricane Helene.

The Wilmington District — supported by multiple Corps districts nationwide — spent the past year pulling massive amounts of storm-driven debris and sediment from Lake Lure and surrounding areas. The lake endured extensive flooding and sedimentation during Helene, prompting some of the most demanding cleanup operations in the region.

George Minges, a debris subject-matter expert from the Louisville District who helped lead the effort, underscored the scale of the work.“This has been a massive and significant project,” Minges said. “We’ve removed over 1 million cubic yards of debris from this lake. For comparison, an NFL stadium is about 400,000 cubic yards — so that’s two-and-a-half NFL stadiums full of debris.”

He noted that crews operated on an intense schedule to meet recovery needs. “It’s 52,000 dump trucks — 54 weeks of 12-hour days, seven days a week,” Minges said. “We worked waterways, rights of way, private property and even commercial demolition. At any given time, the Corps was working in 16 counties, but about a quarter to a third of the state’s debris came from this area.”

Lt. Col. Ken Porter, deputy commander of the Wilmington District, said the closeout reflects the level of cooperation between federal, state and local partners. “This represents more than finishing a mission,” Porter said. “It represents the trust and teamwork that carried Lake Lure through recovery. The town’s leadership and residents were determined from day one, and that resilience made all the difference.”

Lake Lure Mayor Carol Pritchett said the moment marks a turning point for the community after months of uncertainty. “Our town has faced a long, difficult year,” Pritchett said. “Seeing this work completed — the debris removed, our lake restored and these hazards addressed — gives our residents a sense of relief and hope. We are incredibly grateful for the Corps’ dedication and for the crews who worked tirelessly on behalf of Lake Lure.”

With the Corps now concluding its assigned responsibilities in the town, officials said the milestone serves as both the end of federal recovery operations and the start of long-term rebuilding for the region.

“Lake Lure’s closeout is a major milestone for the entire region,” Porter said. “And it reflects what is possible when federal, state and local partners move forward together.”