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CALVIN R. PECK, JR.
(Articles are in reverse chronological order)
Tab 9
Star-News (Wilmington, NC)
December 21, 2000
Corps gives Carolina Beach Lake a hand
Author: Trista Talton
A majority of the money this town needs to improve Carolina Beach Lake is already in the bag.
This year's budget includes $85,000 to purchase a new lake pump, one of the improvements
included in a new report from the Army Corps of Engineers. The corps recommends spending
roughly $95,000 to $100,000 on the lake.
"We suspected that there were problems we need to deal with," said Town Manager Calvin Peck
Jr., who had skimmed through the report he received Tuesday. "I don't think anything in here
really surprised me a lot. It's not bad news, and it's not totally unexpected."
A study began in June after the town asked the corps to look into methods to reduce lake
flooding. The 11-acre lake, which collects runoff from about 560 acres around it, often overflows
after heavy rainfalls.
"Part of this is a result of some real good things that have happened," Mr. Peck said.
He was referring to the town's growth. Roads, roofs and driveways create more runoff, he said.
One suggested improvement is to replace the lake's eastern pump and to rebuild the western
pump, which serves as a backup.
"I anticipate replacing the pump this fiscal year," Mr. Peck said.
The report suggests placing remote cameras in less accessible parts of the culvert system
between the lake and Myrtle Grove Sound to monitor for possible obstructions to the flow of
water. No significant obstruction was found in accessible portions of the system, according to the
report. The corps recommends spending $11,000 to replace one of three flapgates, which prevent
water from flowing back into the lake after it's pumped out. The flapgate has a broken hinge.
"We've got two of the three things we asked for," Mr. Peck said.
The town's request for a study into how to intercept runoff before it reaches the lake and divert it
to Henniger Ditch, which flows into the Cape Fear River, has not been funded.
"If we can divert water from this area, that means the pumps don't have to work as hard," Mr.
Peck said.
The corps has submitted a request for federal funds to pay for the $15,000 study. The town also
has the option of seeking funds through the Planning Assistance to States program, which would
split the cost evenly between the town and the federal government.
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