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Pictures of
Boiling Spring Lake Drained
In 2007,
Boiling Spring Lake, located in the City of
Boiling Spring Lakes, North Carolina and deriving its name from
the city in which it is located, began to mysteriously lose water.
Many speculated that a sinkhole had formed in the limestone bed of
the lake, as had happened several years earlier. Further speculation
blamed the sinkhole on the intentional lowering of the lake to
replace a 50 year old flood gate on the Alton Lennon Road Dam. The
argument was, lowering the lake level disturbed the water mass
equilibrium, thus causing a sink hole.
As the crown jewel and
centerpiece lake of the city continued to deplete, pressure on city
officials to rectify the problem escalated. The continuously
lowering lake, combined with ongoing drought conditions in the
region, soon began to expose tree stumps, logs and other submerged
debris. The lake was closed to boaters and swimmers alike, prompting
even further pressure from property owners, city residents and local
real estate agents.
In the fall of 2007 the
decision was made to open all 4 floodgates and drain the lake
completely, so as to determine the true cause of the lowering water
levels. After draining the lake, it was determined that 2 large
sinkholes was the cause of the problem. The sinkholes were packed
with clay and by mid-October of 2007 the floodgates were closed and
the problem was considered rectified. It took about 1 year for the
water level to return to its natural level.
Below, please find a
photographic archive of this historic event.
Boiling Spring Lake Drained
2007
Alton Lennon Park on Alton
Lennon Road
Boat Access on Alton Lennon
Road
Algae Begins To Grow on
Exposed Lake Bottom
Alton Lennon Dam
Sink Hole (Left Side of Frame)
Crews Begin To Access Sinkhole
Crews Begin To Fill Sinkhole
With Clay
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