TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Kristoff Bauer, Deputy City Manager
FROM: Rob Stone, P.E., Public Services Director
DATE: May 7, 2018
RE:
Title
Update on Engineering Evaluations of Privately Owned Dams Damaged During Hurricane Matthew
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
6,7
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Goal 3: High Quality Built Environment
Goal 4: Desirable Place to Live, Work and Recreate
Executive Summary:
On October 30, 2017, Council provided consensus direction to move forward with engineering evaluations of four private dams damaged during Hurricane Matthew (Strickland Bridge Dam, Rayconda Upper Dam, Rayconda Lower Dam, and Arran Lakes Dam). Council also directed staff to conduct additional outreach to private dams to ensure all had an opportunity to receive assistance. Two additional petitions were received (Lorraine Lake Dam and Cottonade Dam) and evaluations for these dams were approved by Council on January 22, 2018. The firm performing the evaluations, Freese & Nichols, Inc., is providing an update and seeking additional direction going forward in light of their findings to date and the restrictions of state law.
Background:
In October, 2016, Hurricane Matthew floodwaters damaged dams throughout the City. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) agreed to provide Public Assistance funding to repair City-maintained dams, however, privately owned dams were and are not eligible for FEMA funding.
In an effort to help rebuild the community following Hurricane Matthew, City staff researched state law for mechanisms to assist. City staff found that under North Carolina General Statute 160A-216, the City could potentially assist in the repair of private dams as long as there was a public benefit (as a stormwater management facility) provided by the dam and/or lake. In April 2017, City Council adopted Policy 125.1 which is consistent with both state law and federal reimbursement guidelines....
Click here for full text