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Flood Relief Plan Bashed: Residents Say Duke Power's Proposal for Lake Wateree Has Major Issues That Still Must Be

Posted on: Monday, 6 March 2006, 09:00 CST

By Kristy Eppley Rupon, The State, Columbia, S.C.

Mar. 6--A flood relief plan at Lake Wateree offered by Duke Power is "unacceptable," according to members of the lake's homeowners association.

"Flood relief was our No. 1 priority," said Gary Faulkenberry, vice chairman for external affairs for the Wateree Homeowners Association of Kershaw County.

The group -- and numerous others along the Catawba River -- has spent the past two years negotiating with Duke officials on issues such as recreation and shoreline preservation as the utility prepares an application for a federal license to continue managing lakes and hydroelectric plants along the river for the next 30 to 50 years.

Duke two weeks ago issued a final agreement for all the groups to sign. The agreement will be sent along with the license application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

In the proposal, Duke says it will shave off six feet of the Wateree dam and install a rubber "bladder" that will allow better flood control.

However, the $6 million project is contingent on Duke receiving a 50-year license, which Faulkenberry called a "crap shoot."

FERC controls the length of the license.

"That's unacceptable," Faulkenberry said. "We're still negotiating, trying to get that changed."

Jason Walls, Duke spokesman, said the agreement is final.

"There are not going to be substantial changes made," he said.

Walls said Duke officials worked with 160 "stakeholders" along the river in developing the agreement and, though some have

concerns about specific areas, they believe it balances the interests throughout the region.

"We believe it's a good agreement," he said.

Faulkenberry agreed that the overall agreement is good for the river.

"There are many things in it that are good for the basin and for the public," he said, such as new public piers and swimming areas, a drought plan coordinated between South Carolina and North Carolina and money for reclaiming artifacts along the river.

"There's just a couple of very, very key issues that are yet to be resolved that are significant enough to cause us to not be satisfied with the whole agreement."

Kershaw County leaders were pleased with an offer in the agreement to provide recreational facilities in the county.

Brenda Wilhite, assistant county administrator, said Duke agreed to pay $900,000 to develop a lakeside park in Kershaw County if the county secures the land within the first five years after the licesne is issued, which could be as early as 2008.

The county is looking for 100 to 200 acres with at least 2,000 feet of shoreline for a park that would include swimming and fishing facilities for the public. She expects the land will cost several thousand dollars per acre.

"I don't imagine it would be that long," Wilhite said. "When we could pay for it would be our driving factor."

Reach Rupon at (803) 771-8622.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The State, Columbia, S.C.

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Source: The State (Columbia, S.C.)

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