Blue Ridge Parkway dam failure turned scenic lake into mud puddle. Cause investigated

A popular section of the Blue Ridge Parkway was closed several hours Friday for an investigation into what caused the Price Lake Dam near Blowing Rock to fail during intense rain last week.

The failure caused 47-acre Price Lake to drain into nearby streams. It is now 15 feet below normal and largely a mud puddle, photos show.

It happened as remnants of Tropical Storm Fred dropped up to a foot of rain on parts of the North Carolina mountains, causing severe flooding and landslides.

National Park Service officials closed the parkway at Milepost 297 during the dam inspection.

In an update shared Friday afternoon, officials said the dam repairs appeared to have been successful, but more work is needed.

“Early next week, park staff will conduct further inspection and finish the repair, which may result in another short-term closure at the same location,” officials said.

It’s expected to take two weeks for water levels to “return to normal.”.

“The lake will remain closed to all uses, including fishing, boating, and all other activities, while lake levels are restored,” the parkway said.

“An area closure is in effect at the lake, and violations of this closure can result in fines. A variety of hazards can be found on the lake bed which create a dangerous situation for anyone who enters the lake. The public’s cooperation with these closures is important to personal safety as well as the protection of Parkway resources.”

Price Lake Dam was built in 1958 and the site is a popular spot for “kayaking and canoeing, fishing, hiking around the edge, or driving across the dam,” according to the Blue Ridge Parkway website.

The parkway closed in multiple areas last week after remnants of Tropical Storm Fred hit North Carolina on Aug 16-17. Six people died in Haywood County and hundreds of families were displaced by flooding, McClatchy News reported.

Fallen trees, mud slides and rock slides were reported on the North Carolina leg of the 469-mile parkway. The debris has since been cleared and those sections reopened, with the exception of Price Lake, the park service reports.

This story was originally published August 27, 2021 at 8:01 AM.