OC Emergency Services monitoring Bear Lake Dam

Thursday afternoon, Oconee County Emergency Services was notified by a property owner of a potential problem with the drainage system supporting Bear Lake in northern Oconee County. Bear Lake, which encompasses just shy of 50 acres, is located within the Fiddler’s Cove neighborhood. Members of the Oconee County Emergency Management Division met with homeowners and maintenance personnel at the site and where they found that the overflow and drainage pipe used to keep water from overflowing the earthen dam was not flowing properly and water was rising in the lake. In addition to the rising waters, the the discharge pipe failure had caused a small portion of the earth surrounding it to erode away. SCDHEC officials, who regulate these types of dams in SC, was requested to the scene. Their team conducted an assessment and determined that the problem with the drainage could potentially be occurring within the dam, not only at the outflow. A portable pump has been put into operation to move water from Bear Lake into Mud Creek, which makes up the lakes outflow. While the pump is helping to relieve the pressure on the dam, other plans have been made should the rains continue to cause the water level to rise. Should the pump and existing drain not suffice, the local homeowners group has made arrangements for a drainage ditch to be dug to allow water to flow from the lake. With this amount of flow, water in Mud Creek and Cheohee Creek could rise out of their banks in the location area. As required by SCDHEC, a flood inundation study indicates that two roads would be endanger of flooding but no homes would be in harms way. SCDOT has placed signs on Cheohee Valley Road and Tamasee Knob Road warning of the potential for flooding. SCDHEC and Oconee County Emergency Services will continue to monitor the situation. The roads in the Fiddler’s Cove neighborhood are tight single lane roads and the section that crosses the dam has been closed. Officials encourage those who live outside the neighbor hood to avoid the area as the roads are constricted more than normal. While the drainage problem at Bear Lake is causing a problem locally for those living within the neighborhood, officials want to reassure those in the area that the creek crossings on Cheohee Valley Road and Tamassee Knob Road are the only areas where high water would be expected should a large amount of water be released. No homes are within the inundation area.