ROAD/DAM REPAIR UPDATES

August 2026

One of the biggest challenges Alpha & Omega Group (A&O) must address as they design the

repair documents for the road and dam on Beechwood Lakes Drive is how to safely manage the

tremendous volume of water and its associated energy if (or when) we have another major

storm like Hurricane Helene, which visited us in the fall of 2024. So much of WNC can bear

witness to the devastating damage massive amounts of water can cause when it is not

controlled. Part of A&O's design process involves using sophisticated formulas and models to

determine whether their proposed solution will sufficiently absorb and dissipate the

floodwater’s energy.

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This past week, we heard from A&O that the originally planned method for dissipating the

overflow water’s energy proved less than effective, delaying the design schedule. This, in turn,

will delay the entire project. The new design also increases the project's bottom-line cost,

which is also problematic.

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The original project timeline called for design and state approval to continue into late fall this

calendar year, with construction beginning in early 2027 and completing in summer 2027. This

design change and the associated additional costs will delay the project by at least 30 days.

Anyone involved in a complex project knows to expect a high potential for delays. Nevertheless,

sharing this news is disappointing. The board pledges to continue to provide monthly updates

on the project's progress, both the good news and the not-so-good news.

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JuLY 2026​

Alpha & Omega Group (A&O) engineers continue to develop the plans for the road and dam repairs. These plans include the construction phase plans, traffic control plans, project manual, emergency action plans, and the very important Engineer’s Opinion of Probable Construction Costs. The project schedule calls for the plans to be submitted to the state Dam Safety Board by the end of August. In late June, A&O submitted an application on behalf of Beechwood Lakes for grant funding made available for the repair of privately owned dams. If awarded, this money could supplement the FEMA funds already collected.

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June 2026​

We continue through the “quiet season” for the road/dam project as Alpha & Omega Group (A&O) continues to develop engineering plans and work with their partners analyzing test results. On our behalf, A&O is applying for grant money available from  the North Carolina Dam Safety Grant Fund which could provide additional funds for the repairs. The project remains on schedule. 

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May 2026​

The past few weeks have seen a flurry of repair-related activity at the lake. First, there was the small yellow boat surveying and mapping the lake bottom. Then, on April 22, a crew from ECS spent several days drilling core samples to analyze the dam's current makeup. Ted Bartlett, President of Alpha & Omega Group (A&O), reports the following other accomplishments:
 

• The Jurisdictional Determination / Hazard Classification of the dam has been completed and submitted to Dam Safety on May 4th

• The Bathymetric (underwater) Survey has been completed and delivered to A&O.

• Utility owners have been contacted, and coordination with those companies has begun. It was determined that no utilities run underground across the dam.

• The hydrologic and hydraulic analysis has been completed, which should yield preliminary design ideas for improved spillway design by the end of May.

• Geotechnical investigation was completed on May 5th and should be delivered to A&O on May 22nd.

   

We now enter a period of reduced activity at the site as the engineers use the collected information to develop the design for the new dam and its construction plans. The creation of those plans will likely take the bulk of the summer, and the overall project schedule calls for their submission to the state for approval by mid-August.  Once the state approves the plans, which could take until November, A&O can create final construction documents, and we can begin soliciting construction bids. Current estimates show construction scheduled to begin in February and be completed in July of 2027. 

 

Stay tuned for more updates next month.