Boiling Spring Lakes Inches Closer to Refilling, But Pine Lake Error Pushes Timeline

Eight years after Hurricane Florence drained Boiling Spring Lakes, reconstruction continues with progress on some dams and a major correction on Pine Lake that will shape when water finally returns.

Brunswick County, NC — Boiling Spring Lakes’ lake system was entirely man‑made, created in the 1960s by damming small creeks and branches throughout the area. When Hurricane Florence struck in 2018, all five major dams failed under extreme rainfall, allowing the lakes to empty back into their natural creek channels. Because the lakes are impoundments rather than natural basins, they cannot return until the dams are fully rebuilt and certified.

City Manager Gordon Hargrove has said in recent updates that Upper Lake and North Lake are now in the final review stage with NC Dam Safety. He noted that once certification is complete, both lakes will be allowed to begin natural impoundment. The city does not pump water into the lakes, so refilling will be gradual and dependent on rainfall and watershed flow.

Upper Lake Dam and North Lake Dam are now in the final review stage with state dam‑safety regulators. Certification is expected the next one to two months, and once approved, both lakes can begin refilling naturally through rainfall and watershed flow. The city does not pump water into the lakes, so impoundment will be gradual and weather‑dependent.

Construction continues at Sanford Dam, where crews are forming and pouring concrete for the culvert structures. Once that phase is complete, the contractor will shift to Pine Lake Dam to begin corrective work. Sanford Dam remains on track for completion in late 2026 or early 2027.

The largest delay in the overall project is the Pine Lake Dam elevation error discovered after a heavy rain event.

Engineers determined the spillway was built roughly five feet too low, preventing Pine Lake from holding water. The city has approved a change order to correct the mistake, which includes demolition of the existing spillway and construction of a new water‑control system. Engineering work is underway, and physical reconstruction is expected to begin soon.

The correction is projected to extend into December 2026 or January 2027, depending on weather. East Boiling Spring Road will reopen only after this work is complete.

The full return of the lake system depends on dam completion and state certification. Upper Lake and North Lake may begin refilling once certified, while Sanford Dam and Pine Lake Dam remain under construction. Pine Lake, the largest lake in the community, cannot return until the elevation correction is finished. Even after construction ends, refilling will take time and will depend on rainfall.

Boiling Spring Lakes’ recovery continues, but meaningful lake restoration is not expected until 2027, with Pine Lake’s correction remaining the single largest factor in the timeline.