Posted on January 9, 2025
Before Tropical Storm Helene hit Western North Carolina, the Mountain Retreat Association had planned to dredge and restore Lake Susan in Montreat.
According to Seth Hagler, the MRA’s vice president for development, the plans before Helene were to remove approximately 6,500 cubic yards of silt, dirt and organic matter from the lake. After Helene, the amount of debris removed from Lake Susan totals 24,000 cubic yards as of Jan. 2.
According to an Oct. 31 news release from the MRA, Helene caused “significant amounts of sediment and debris” in the lake, which the release described as “increasing the importance of the previously scheduled dredging.”
Lake Susan had not been dredged since the early 2000s. The news release said upstream erosion and accumulation of sediment in the basin of the lake caused a decline in the holding capacity.
In addition to cleaning up Helene debris, the news release said this restoration project will “create a more sustainable long-term solution” for Lake Susan.
The project was funded through a grant awarded by the state of North Carolian in its 2024 fiscal year budget.
Hagler said the Lake Susan dredging and stream restoration project is in its “late stages.”
“The work within the lakebed is nearly complete, with the stream restoration fully finished,” Hagler said. “The remaining tasks include clearing the worksite, repairing damaged sections of the lake’s surrounding wall and beginning restoration of the area that served as the project’s central hub.”
In addition to this work, Hagler said the MRA is also making improvements that will support Lake Susan’s long-term maintenance.
On the eastern bank, a wetlands area is being built to support wildlife and promote biodiversity. This has been built, and submerged aquatic vegetation is being planted.
A trench below the Lake Susan Bridge was installed with the goal of preventing sediment buildup in the future.
Also as part of this project, the “historical flow” of Flat Creek was reestablished, which will help minimize “the impact of future flooding events” and helps maintain the water quality of both Lake Susan and Flat Creek, according to Hagler.
