When Helene came through it raised the lake level at Lake Junaluska by about 6 feet causing some damage to the lake shore along the popular Rose Walk. Repair work is in the process including putting down a lot of rock. (Photo credit: WLOS staff)
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (WLOS) — When Helene came through it raised the lake level at Lake Junaluska by about 6 feet causing some damage to the lake shore along the popular Rose Walk. Repair work is underway including putting down a lot of rock.
“We're putting in about 2 thousand tons of rip-rap rock which is 6-to-12-inch stone,” said Mac McKay with RCF Construction.
He’s heading up the project.
“It saturated that slope and we had [a] failure of soil failure of about 25% to 30% of the Rose Walk,” McKay said.
“We experienced 3 landslides along the beautiful Rose Walk here at Lake Junaluska,” said Lake Junaluska Executive Director Ken Howle.
Howle said the restoration is possible with people making charitable monetary donations.
“That has given over a half million that we're able to use to revitalize this area, rebuild this area. People from all over the country. Many of the folks though that have given have been people that come, and they walk, and they recreate, and they love this place,” said Howle.
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It's a week into laying down the rock, now on a gentler slope.
“So, we're losing a little bit of slope, but we'll be much more stable in those areas,” said McKay.
While the lake level is lower to accommodate the work, it’s a chance to check on other things.
“We wanted to make sure that the sewer was not damaged by the landslides,” McKay said.
McKay said the sewer was checked out and it's in good shape.
It’s also a chance to inspect the walk bridge, where a lot of debris ended up during Helene. Last fall, volunteers picked a lot of it away.
“We just wanted to make sure that our sub-structure was good. But it is. We’re ready to take the lake back up, “said McKay.
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“One of the things we experienced after Helene was that people needed to get back outdoors. They needed to be able to recreate and heal themselves. It's people that come and they appreciate being able to walk and run here and enjoy the recreation amenities here and we just deeply appreciate that outpouring of support," said McKay.
Frequent visitors agree.
“People come for conferences and what-not. And it's something to be kept and preserved,” said Nicole Gonnelli of Clyde.
Repairs are nearing completion, thanks, Howle says to everyone chipping in.
“We deeply appreciate that generous support that's enabling all of this to happen. We really want people to come back to Western North Carolina and enjoy this area, not only help us rebuild our infrastructure but help us rebuild our economy.”
The work is expected to wrap up in two weeks.