An emergency shelter at the Dunbar Gym for individuals who evacuated due to the Carter Lake Dam incident closed Tuesday morning, after residents were notified Monday evening that they could return home.
Residents learned Saturday that the dam at Carter Lake in Camden, also known as Hardwood Pond Dam, had been compromised due to damage to the embankment of the dam. Residences located south of the dam – specifically along Henry Darden Road, Marie Road, Community Drive, Bo Peep, Herb Collins Road, and Girard – could have been in the path of potential flooding if the dam breached.
All residents in these areas were urged to evacuate immediately and remain clear of the area until further notice.
A flash flood watch issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) at 10:29 p.m. Saturday heightened concerns, especially after a resident in the area reported rushing water leaking from the dam, information that was referred to local officials and the dam operator. Urgent maintenance ensued as an evacuation order was issued for the area downstream of the creek.
The Polk County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) stayed in communication with the property owners of the dam who were working on a plan to enable them to further assess the damage in order to make necessary repairs. Out of an abundance of caution, residents along Rafford Road and Cleophas Lane were also advised to evacuate.
Although the NWS flashflood watch remained in effect, Polk County OEM reported at 7:40 a.m. Sunday that they had been in contact with the property owners and that the situation had not worsened overnight.
Carter Lake is a small to mid-sized privately owned lake in the Camden area. The owners of the dam communicated to Polk County OEM that they would pump water out of the lake and down the spillway with large-volume pumps to lower the water level one to two feet, allowing them to further evaluate the damage.
As of 11 a.m. Sunday, Polk County OEM had visited with property owners and learned that there was an estimated eight-inch hole in the earthen embankment with a steady flow of water being released. The property owners continued using high-volume pumps to lower the level of the lake below the damaged area in the embankment. Local officials were pleased with the efforts being made and the property owners indicated they intended to seek assistance from an engineer for repairs.
As of 5:40 p.m. Sunday, the goal was to reduce the lake’s water level another two feet to give property owners a better view of the extent of the damage. Pumping crews monitored the pumps overnight and emergency response partners monitored the area of concern throughout the night.
Pumping operations continued as of 8:55 a.m. Monday. By 4:05 p.m. Monday, the property owners reported the lake level had decreased by approximately one foot and their intent was to continue to reduce the water level an additional three to four feet below where it was originally.
Emergency management officials met with the TCEQ Dam Safety Division Monday and following a review of the current conditions, determined that residents could safely return to their homes.
However, residents are urged to use caution when traveling roads and crossing bridges over Dabbs Creek in low-lying areas, as pumping operations by the dam’s property owners will continue.
Polk County OEM reported they would remain in contact with the property owners until the dam repair operations were fully completed.
