Meanwhile, across the street in Asheville City Hall, city council approved plans for Phase I of what is known as the Lake Craig Project. It synthesizes multiple problems into a major solution. The project likely started with recommendations from Brown and Caldwell, a consulting firm hired to make recommendations for flood mitigation following the aftermath of Hurricanes Frances and Ivan. The city was awarded $1,778,888 in hurricane relief from the state, and it is banking on receiving another $374,351.
The money will go toward cleaning up a riverway and using fill thus obtained to improve traffic circulation. Rather than widening the main entrance to Azalea Park, the city will make traffic one-way and construct a route of egress. Since the park has a very popular soccer field, the city will connect it to the municipal water system. In doing so, the road work will become eligible for Sullivan Act funds. (Special state legislation requires the city to use water system revenues for only water system operations and improvements. Another special law allows the city to divert up to 5% of water system revenues toward infrastructure improvements associated with laying water lines.) $2,000,877 will be made available from the diversions. Besides the little stuff, the city would like to move the portion of the Swannanoa River that runs through the property.
Phase II of the project will involve either the renovation or reconstruction of the Lake Craig Dam. Studies are needed first, and funding sources have not been identified. The US Army Corps of Engineers and the NC Division of Water Resources have joined multiple private consultants in partnering with the city for Phase I of the engineering feat.
