Residents raised concerns last month after being notified that the Nantahala Lake would be lowered 60 feet by Oct. 5 to conduct needed repairs on the Duke Energy generator.

Duke Energy began lowering Nantahala Lake this week, after revising its program for lake lowering this summer and fall, a move Macon County Commission Chairman Ronnie Beale says he hopes will satisfy all parties.

Some area residents and local businesses that depend on Nantahala Lake for recreation and tourism income raised concerns earlier this year when Duke announced its plans to lower the lake for repairs – a full 60 feet prior to October 5.

“We received information from those who expressed concerns about lake levels. I spoke with Fred Alexander and they (Duke Energy) have reconsidered the lake levels. Since the newest information was sent out, I have not received any phone calls,” Beale said.

Alexander, district manager for community relations, said the lowering schedule has been revised three times and that Duke is trying to be sensitive to the needs of those who depend on the lake.

The new schedule shows lake levels will be three feet below full by June 1, seven feet below full by July 1 and 10 feet below full by August 15. The remaining two levels remain consistent with earlier release schedules showing the lake 35 feet below full by Labor Day and reaches its lowest level of 60 feet by Oct. 5.

“Even though there will be more shoreline exposed, boats can still use public access ramps well past Labor Day. Some of those access points can be utilized up to 50 feet below,” Alexander said.

Area homeowners and businesses had voiced concern about the levels, but some said they had little problem with the plan.

“The biggest cause for alarm from area homeowners is because they did not find out until a few weeks ago,” said Larry Noyes, president of the Nantahala Highlands Estate Property Association. “People who rent houses on the lake were concerned that they would need to contact renters and may lose business in the fall.”

Noyes said he isn’t personally as concerned as some, but understands people who are worried about not getting full use of the season and are worried about aesthetics of exposed shoreline.

“We found out six weeks before the lowering began,” said John Lumpkin. He and his wife split their time between living on the lake and their home in South Carolina. “We’ve lived here for five years, and this is the third time in five years they are lowering the lake levels for something.”

This year is, by far, the largest drop.

Susan Lumpkin said it just seems like Duke Energy could put off the plan for one month, starting in June instead of July and ending in November. “Labor Day is still summer to me,” she said of the 35-foot expected drop by Sept. 7.

Duke Energy states the lake has to be low enough early enough in the year to finish painting its pipeline. The paint will not set correctly if the temperature is too cold, so the lake must reach a certain point by a certain time of the year.

Susan Lumpkin said her family did not have income being affected by the plan but many neighbors do.

Kristine Flag, who works with Nantahala Realty and owns Lakes End Grill and the marina on the lake said, as the only commercial venture on the lake, she has some real concerns.

“It’s just one of those situations. I certainly understand there has to be maintenance, but I wish it could happen at a different time,” she said. She employees about 15 to 20 local residents and worries how the lowered lake will affect her business.

She said they depend on a lot of fuel sales from people who have docks on the lake and from the cabin rentals around the lake.

“We informed renters of the situation, and some did choose to cancel their rentals,” she said. Worrying about keeping employees through leaf season is one concern, but on the positive note, she said, the economy has also meant a slower season. “This may be the best time to do it.”

She said the revised plan Duke presented will keep her business in operation through Aug. 15, and recognized Duke’s efforts to work with the area.

“I’m not as upset as some people seem to be,” said Vince West, who lives year-round in the area. “It seems to be a reasonable approach to the task at hand.”

The task at hand is the need to replace parts to the generator, some of which have extended well beyond expected life. The rotor at the Nantahala Hydroelectric Plant is 67 years old and the insulation on its copper windings need to be refurbished to continue working.

In addition to the lowering of lake levels, the Nantahala Plant will be out of service between Oct. 5 and Dec. 31. Alexander said there would be no disruption of service to customers during that time.

“We are looking at a planned three month shut down for repairs now, or an unexpected failure causing a six to nine month shut down at a later date,” Alexander said

While the refurbishing takes place, 9,400 feet of pipeline will need to be painted.

“We’ve chosen a time and process that has the least impact on public recreation on the lake and downstream water levels,” Alexander said.

The generator and lake levels have a direct affect on whitewater rafting downstream of the lake.

Charles Connor, with the Nantahala Outdoor Center said that while the situation is not ideal, the NOC certainly understands the needs of Duke Energy. Maintenance is part of the process, he said.

“This doesn’t come as a surprise to us. We actually thought this was going to take place last year, so we were prepared for this to happen,” Connor said.

This is not the first time the lake has been lowered; thought the last time it was lowered to this extent was in 2002.

Alexander said the work has to be done before the weather gets too cold this winter. With this schedule, lost whitewater days are limited to the last three weeks of October. As an exchange, because an additional hour of generation is planned in the summer months there should be an extended hour of recreation in the gorge through summer months.