Montreat Conference Center Weathers Major Flooding,
Makes Safety Downstream Top Priority

(Montreat, NC) – Recently, in back-to-back torrential rainstorms related to Hurricanes Frances and Ivan, Montreat Conference Center’s Lake Susan, empty in preparation for repairs to the dam, re-filled twice at rates alarming not only to the people at the conference center, but to people below the dam as well. Both times, as water levels crept steadily toward the top of the dam’s concrete spillway, the safety of the people downstream overrode all other concerns. "We knew we were sustaining damages at the conference center and that we’d have to deal with them," said conference center president George Barber, "but with the lake filling up as fast as it was, lives were a lot more important than property."

Prior to both storms, Montreat Conference Center’s official Emergency Response Plan was activated. Conference center officials contacted Steve Parrott with the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources. He and Barber monitored the spillway throughout both storms. In addition, the conference center’s engineers overseeing dam repairs, the local police and fire departments, county emergency management personnel, and the State Dam Safety Engineer were all put on alert. In both instances, a decision made jointly by emergency personnel, dam safety officials, and the conference center initiated evacuation of homes below the dam.

Preparations for bad weather were already underway when the first storm caused by Hurricane Frances began. A cut made in the earthen part of the lake’s dam by construction crews was re-filled. The cut was further raised and reinforced before the second storm, brought on by Hurricane Ivan. The two valves used to control the flow of water, already open for several weeks to empty the lake for repairs, remained open during both storms. However, as rains from Hurricane Frances caused the lake to rise at a rate of more than 2 inches an hour, the valves quickly reached their capacity, causing the water in the lake to crest at 24 inches over the top of the spillway. Anticipating the same or worse from Ivan, an additional plate in the dam was removed, providing a third outlet for overflow. The Lake Susan Dam does not have flood gates.

Because the lake was almost empty at the onset of both storms, it became Montreat Conference Center’s first line of defense, providing a natural basin to hold and manage an enormous quantity of water that would have otherwise raged down Flat Creek, potentially endangering not just property, but human life in the downstream communities of Montreat and Black Mountain.

"The sun is shining again today and thankfully, these crises have passed without serious injury or loss of life," said Barber, following the second storm. "We are especially grateful to all the emergency management personnel and dam safety officials who stood with us through those long, wet nights, keeping watch over the spillway and sharing our concerns for safety downstream. They helped us prepare for the worst, and they made sure that, if the worst did come to pass, people would be safe."

Flooding affected several areas within the conference center, including the popular family campground, where an access road was washed out. In addition, the Robert Lake Park playground, located downstream from the dam at the intersection of two of the flooded streams at Montreat, sustained major damage. "The road to the campground will be repaired by the City of Montreat," said Barber. "We expect it to be open again in time for campers to enjoy the fall colors." He went on however to say that restoring the playground would be a different matter. "The damages are extensive," he said, "and first estimates indicate that repairs will be very costly. A lot of work will have to be done before children will be able to play there again." He concluded, "This is one of those times when help from our friends and supporters around the country truly will make a difference."

Robert Lake Park was built in memory of Robert Lake, an outstanding pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and member of a Montreat family that has been committed to supporting the conference center for many generations.

(To help with repairs to the Robert Lake Park, contact the Montreat Conference Center Development Office at (800) 572-2257. Or mail your donation to: Development Office, Montreat Conference Center, P.O. Box 969, Montreat, NC 28757-0969.)

Note: Since the writing of this article, Montreat Conference Center has been doused yet again by rains and wind from Hurricane Jean. Flooding and damage from this third storm were minimal, however, and have not impeded repairs to the campground which will re-open October 2. Unfortunately, Robert Lake Park remains closed.