Hope Mills Dam
Encyclopedia
The Hope Mills Dam, also known as Hope Mills Dam #1, is currently a failed concrete
dam
on Little Rockfish Creek in Hope Mills, North Carolina
, which created Hope Mills Lake
. Three different dams were built on the site including the current one. The first dam, of rock-crib design, was built in 1839 to power local cotton mills. The second was an embankment dam built in 1924 for powering the mills and later to maintain the lake's water level. Both previous dams failed from flooding. The current dam failed in June 2010 after a leak was discovered and the lake was drained.
troops burned the cotton mills but spared the dam from destruction. After the American Civil War
, two mills were rebuilt and the surrounding area including the dam was named Hope Mills. On May 9, 1923 this first dam was breached by a flood and construction on an earthen-embankment dam
began the same year. Rockfish Mills Co. again constructed the dam with designs from Mees Consulting Engineers of Charlotte and the actual construction by the Scott-Stewart Jones Co. The second dam cost $27,093 and was completed in early 1924.
In 1930, Rockfish Mills Co. went bankrupt and was not bought until 1941 by Dixie Yarns. Dixie Yarns eventually gave the dam to the town in 1984. In 1993, a two-lane Lakeview Road bridge was installed over the dam and at the same time a leak in the dam was repaired. In 1994, an unused turbine shaft from the old cotton mill site was uncovered and filled with cement. In addition, walls behind the dam's spillway were reinforced with rock after concerns were voiced about their strength. Hurricane Floyd
brought heavy rains in 1999 which, after concerns of a dam breach, forced the opening of the floodgate
s. In 2001, a 6 feet (1.8 m) crack was repaired that engineers had determined was not structural. Later in 2001, the dam passed safety inspection but two small holes and some eroded concrete was repaired in 2002.
weekend, heavy rains caused the embankment dam to give way and also destroyed 30 feet (9.1 m) of the nearby Lakeview Road. About 40 homes and 1600 people downstream were evacuated as water from Hope Mills Lake rushed down the creek causing $2.1 million in damages before making its way to the Cape Fear River
. One of the floodgates on the dam had failed to open because of the pressure exerted by the flood waters, which helped push water over the top of the dam. Later in 2003, Lakeview Road was repaired and plans for the repair of the dam were underway. After four years of fund and permit requests, construction on the new $9.8 million Hope Mills Dam began in March 2007. Crowder Construction Company
was awarded the contract to construct the dam along with designs from Mactec
, Morrison Engineers. The new dam would essentially be a concrete labyrinth-spillway that would expand the dam's ability to discharge flood waters. The new dam would be 600 feet (182.9 m) longer and would incorporate a fish ladder
as well. Construction of the new Hope Mills Dam was complete in June 2008 and the lake was again full by August.
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
on Little Rockfish Creek in Hope Mills, North Carolina
Hope Mills, North Carolina
Hope Mills is a town in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 15,176 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hope Mills is located at ....
, which created Hope Mills Lake
Hope Mills Lake
Hope Mills Lake, also referred to as Hope Mills Lake #1, was a lake in Hope Mills in Cumberland County, North Carolina which was fed by Little Rockfish Creek. It was a mill pond that was created in 1839 by the Hope Mills Dam for the first cotton mill of what was Little Rockfish Village at the time...
. Three different dams were built on the site including the current one. The first dam, of rock-crib design, was built in 1839 to power local cotton mills. The second was an embankment dam built in 1924 for powering the mills and later to maintain the lake's water level. Both previous dams failed from flooding. The current dam failed in June 2010 after a leak was discovered and the lake was drained.
History
The first Hope Mills Dam was a rock-crib dam and was built in 1839 by the Rockfish Mills Co. for the powering of four cotton mills nearby. In 1865, General Sherman and Union ArmyUnion Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
troops burned the cotton mills but spared the dam from destruction. After the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, two mills were rebuilt and the surrounding area including the dam was named Hope Mills. On May 9, 1923 this first dam was breached by a flood and construction on an earthen-embankment dam
Embankment dam
An embankment dam is a massive artificial water barrier. It is typically created by the emplacement and compaction of a complex semi-plastic mound of various compositions of soil, sand, clay and/or rock. It has a semi-permanent waterproof natural covering for its surface, and a dense, waterproof...
began the same year. Rockfish Mills Co. again constructed the dam with designs from Mees Consulting Engineers of Charlotte and the actual construction by the Scott-Stewart Jones Co. The second dam cost $27,093 and was completed in early 1924.
In 1930, Rockfish Mills Co. went bankrupt and was not bought until 1941 by Dixie Yarns. Dixie Yarns eventually gave the dam to the town in 1984. In 1993, a two-lane Lakeview Road bridge was installed over the dam and at the same time a leak in the dam was repaired. In 1994, an unused turbine shaft from the old cotton mill site was uncovered and filled with cement. In addition, walls behind the dam's spillway were reinforced with rock after concerns were voiced about their strength. Hurricane Floyd
Hurricane Floyd
Hurricane Floyd was the sixth named storm, fourth hurricane, and third major hurricane in the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season. Floyd triggered the third largest evacuation in US history when 2.6 million coastal residents of five states were ordered from their homes as it approached...
brought heavy rains in 1999 which, after concerns of a dam breach, forced the opening of the floodgate
Floodgate
Floodgates are adjustable gates used to control water flow in flood barriers, reservoir, river, stream, or levee systems. They may be designed to set spillway crest heights in dams, to adjust flow rates in sluices and canals, or they may be designed to stop water flow entirely as part of a levee or...
s. In 2001, a 6 feet (1.8 m) crack was repaired that engineers had determined was not structural. Later in 2001, the dam passed safety inspection but two small holes and some eroded concrete was repaired in 2002.
2003 failure and reconstruction
In late May 2003, over Memorial DayMemorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
weekend, heavy rains caused the embankment dam to give way and also destroyed 30 feet (9.1 m) of the nearby Lakeview Road. About 40 homes and 1600 people downstream were evacuated as water from Hope Mills Lake rushed down the creek causing $2.1 million in damages before making its way to the Cape Fear River
Cape Fear River
The Cape Fear River is a long blackwater river in east central North Carolina in the United States. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Fear, from which it takes its name. The overall water quality of the river is continuously measured and monitored by and conducted by the , , and the...
. One of the floodgates on the dam had failed to open because of the pressure exerted by the flood waters, which helped push water over the top of the dam. Later in 2003, Lakeview Road was repaired and plans for the repair of the dam were underway. After four years of fund and permit requests, construction on the new $9.8 million Hope Mills Dam began in March 2007. Crowder Construction Company
Crowder Construction Company
Crowder Construction Company is a privately owned General Contracting, and Design-Build service provider. Founded in 1947 by O. P. and W.T. Crowder, Crowder Construction Company is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina....
was awarded the contract to construct the dam along with designs from Mactec
Mactec
MACTEC is among the largest engineering design companies in the United States. The company provides engineering, environmental, and construction services to private- and public-sector clients. MACTEC is based in Atlanta, Georgia and employs 3100 staff in 80 locations, with capability in more than...
, Morrison Engineers. The new dam would essentially be a concrete labyrinth-spillway that would expand the dam's ability to discharge flood waters. The new dam would be 600 feet (182.9 m) longer and would incorporate a fish ladder
Fish ladder
A fish ladder, also known as a fishway, fish pass or fish steps, is a structure on or around artificial barriers to facilitate diadromous fishes' natural migration. Most fishways enable fish to pass around the barriers by swimming and leaping up a series of relatively low steps into the waters on...
as well. Construction of the new Hope Mills Dam was complete in June 2008 and the lake was again full by August.