An engineering firm in Lynchburg says the city’s College Lake Dam appears to be stable after heavy rains brought heavy flooding to the area Thursday night.
But the more than 150 people evacuated from their homes will not be allowed to return until rains leave the area.
Lynchburg saw 5 to 7 inches of rain in a 2-hour timespan, closing off access to Lakeside Drive over the lake when the heavy rains overflowed the dam.
“This a very severe storm in a very short amount of time, producing a great amount of rainfall. So I don’t know – I’ve been in Lynchburg about 25 years, and I don’t recall having seen the lake breach the roadway.”
Most of those evacuated from their homes live downstream from College Lake Dam. They were taken to E.C. Glass High School and a local Salvation Army shelter.
There are no reports of injuries, but there have been hundreds of calls over water damage in homes.
Officials in Lynchburg lifted the evacuation order Saturday afternoon. Earlier Saturday, water resources workers opened a sluice at College Lake Dam to lower reservoir levels so officials can make repairs to the dam. City officials said Friday that the dam is stable despite the damage it sustained.
Here is the press release issued Friday from the City of Lynchburg on the status of the College Lake Dam:
College Lake Dam, an earthen dam built in 1934, reached a critical flood level stage at 9:20 p.m. on Thursday, August 2. As a Stage 3 level emergency, this flooding required evacuations of residences located down-stream from the dam. Engineers completed their conditional assessment this morning, August 3, and determined the structure is currently stable and that there is no immediate fear of dam failure.
They will continue to monitor the conditions of the structure around the clock in order to determine embankment stability and dam safety.
Tomorrow morning, Saturday, August 4, crews will open a small sluice on the spillway in order to begin dewatering the reservoir. Once the water levels are lowered, then initial repairs can begin on the dam embankment and the roadway.
Residents who have been evacuated will not be able to return to their homes until further notice. Officials hope to announce a possible return time frame by the end of the day tomorrow, Saturday, August 4.
Evacuation areas are being monitored by the Lynchburg Police Department.
Motorists and pedestrians are asked to not cross barricades for the safety of residents and first responders.
Public Works crews have continuously responded to flooded roadways in order to restore traffic flow.
The emergency shelter established at E.C. Glass High School will remain open as long as necessary for residents displaced by flooding and from evacuated areas. Pets are being permitted in the emergency shelter.
