A recent inspection of the

Pye Lake dam revealed several problems that could lead to a breach of

the dam during a heavy rain event, causing a flood that would endanger

the lives of those who live nearby, a state official said Friday.

State regulations require that

the owner, Harriet Parham, hire an engineer to create and oversee a plan

to address eight deficiencies with the dam, which is at least 37 years

old.

If the repairs are not made,

the state may seek court action to remove the dam, effectively draining

the lake and removing the flood hazard, said Tom Woosley of the state's

Safe Dams Program. The EPD could also attempt to fine the owner or set

penalties to make sure the dam is fixed, Woosley added.

"You hate to keep the

dam there when it's unsafe," Woosley said. "... We try to work

with them (the owners) all we can."

The cost to repair the dam

will likely run well over $100,000, Woosley said.

Parham and her husband, Ronald,

said last week the bill will run "several hundred thousand dollars"

and they cannot afford to make the repairs.

The Parhams want the city to

foot the bill if possible. And while Mayor Ken Steele noted the lake is

privately owned property, the city may pay for some of the improvements

to the dam as part of its work to control flooding in the Gingercreek

basin, officials said.

Ronald Parham blamed the city

for the lake's troubles, saying a lot of silt coming from new development

in the area has diminished the lake's capacity over the years.

"I feel like the city

created the problem," Parham said as he spoke during Thursday night's

Fayetteville City Council meeting.

Pye Lake's dam is classified

as a Category I dam, meaning it has the potential to endanger at least

one life, Woosley said. The state only determines whether one life would

be at risk, not estimating a total number of deaths a dam breach flood

might cause or how many nearby homes would be affected, he added.

Contrary to what was said at

the council meeting, there are relatively few permitting obstacles to

getting rid of a dangerous dam, Woosley said.

"The regulatory requirements

are pretty lax," Woosley said.

Among the deficiencies cited

The dam's main spillway is

an 18-inch corrugated metal pipe which has a significant sag under the

main portion of the dam.

The earth emergency spillway,

based on the 50-year flood study and visual erosion, is functioning far

more frequently than the 50-year storm event.

The dam is not capable of

passing the flood developed by the design storm.

The slopes of the dam are

not properly vegetated.

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