Lake James sediment stirs concerns but tests show it is safe

A 17-year resident of Holiday Shores, Theofrastous has never seen the usually pristine impoundment — far and away the clearest and cleanest on the Catawba/Wateree chain — like this.

The idea that Lake James might not be safe is keeping Theofrastous from pursuing some of his favorite pastimes like paddle boating and hydro biking.

He described the color of the water as “latte-brown with an incredible amount of sediment at the surface.”

Despite Theofrastous’ concerns, those who monitor the water quality said they have heard no reports of toxic substances in the lake. The water may be dingy, but — based on the limited tests that have been done — it’s probably not dangerous.

“Duke Energy has not received any reports related to toxins or other pollutants on Lake James,” said Duke spokesman Ben Williamson. “The lake level does remain high, and lake users should use caution and are encouraged to only use the lake, if necessary, until conditions return to normal.”

The Lake James Environmental Association agreed with Duke’s assessment, although Joanne Deyo, acting executive director of LJEA, said information has been hard to come by in the weeks following the disaster.

“The only information out there is extremely limited,” Deyo said. “LJEA and Catawba Riverkeeper performed water sampling at seven sites on the lake a few weeks ago, and all of the samples came within safe limits for E. coli. That’s all we tested for. The lab we typically use to test for other contaminants was destroyed by Helene, so we were unable to do more testing. We haven’t heard of any other water testing on the lake.”

Grant Buckner, Northern Basic director for Catawba Riverkeeper, said the organization’s testing revealed low E. coli levels, “almost to background levels, which is a good thing.”

Buckner said he is not aware of any evidence for the presence of toxins in the lake, noting there have been no reports of fish kills, unusual smells, or coloration that might indicate the presence of contaminants.

Still, Helene was an unprecedented event.

During the cataclysmic hurricane, which buffeted the area with high winds and dumped nearly 30 inches of rain on some mountain communities, the lake rose to a record level of 110.7 feet.

Lakeside homes were flooded. Some residents had to be rescued by swift water teams. Campers, boats, docks, trees, and debris of all descriptions littered the lake. Mountains of silt washed into the reservoir from the Catawba and Linville rivers, as well as Paddy’s Creek.

Surface-water contamination is most prevalent in areas with a concentration of agricultural land or industrial development. Neither of those factors applies to Lake James and its tributaries, which are largely undeveloped except for private homes around the lake.

“There are not a lot of major sources of industrial waste upstream of Lake James, compared to other areas, which decreases our chances of spills,” Buckner said.

Despite the fact there have been no reports of toxins, Duke, the LJEA, and Riverkeeper advise folks to stay off the lake until the water clears.

The problem may be compounded by the fact the lake’s usual flow has been disrupted and will be for some time to come.

Helene caused serious damage to the two main turbines and another smaller unit when the Bridgewater Hydro Station flooded on Sept. 26 and 27. As a result, Duke cannot release water through the powerhouse.

That means Lake James will remain at full pond, 100 feet or more, for an extended period of time. Heavy rain events between now and the time the turbines are repaired could cause even more flooding along the lake’s 155 miles of shoreline.

The two main turbines won’t be fixed until springtime, and it may be the end of next year before the smaller unit comes back online.

The fall “turnover” could also be contributing to the water’s cloudy appearance as well. In autumn, water at the surface cools and mixes with cold water beneath it, temporarily stirring up sediment from the lakebed.

It may be a while before all that sediment finally settles. When it does, Lake James will return to the clear, pristine waters that folks like Theofrastous know and love.

In the meantime, Buckner said anyone who observes manmade debris or other types of pollution should report it to the Riverkeeper Pollution Reporter at CatawbaRiverkeeper.org/pollution-reporter.