In 2009, the same company hired by Inman-Campobello Water District (ICWD) analyzed Lake Adger’s Turner Shoals Dam and estimated needed repairs could cost anywhere from $1.8-$3.5 million.

Polk County hired Black & Veatch engineers to study the dam in 2009 prior to closing on purchasing Lake Adger. In light of Polk County asking ICWD to maintain the dam for the full 75 years of a proposed water contract, ICWD has hired the same firm to analyze the dam for an opinion.

Black & Veatch’s 2009 study of the dam revealed approximately $1.8 million worth of repairs to the dam but they cautioned that between contingency and unit prices at the time being low, repairs could cost between $2.5-$3.5 million.

Engineers at the time said there could be approximately $2 million worth of repairs required by the state in the next four years, which would have been between 2009-2013.

Black & Veatch told commissioners at the time that repairs to the dam are expected, considering the dam was then approximately 90 years old.

They said the opportunity to secure a water source such as Lake Adger was a bargain and that it was a good value for Polk County. Black & Veatch estimated at the time the cost to build a reservoir of Lake Adger’s capacity and a dam would cost more than $30 million.

County engineer Dave Odom told commissioners in 2009 at the time of Black & Veatch’s study that he thought the county purchasing Lake Adger was the best option for the county. Odom said there’s no question purchasing Lake Adger is the way to go, saying when the county will need water it will be too late.

“I just think it’s so wise to get this done to supply your water needs for the next 50 to 100 years,” Odom told commissioners in 2009.

Polk County purchased Lake Adger for $1.6 million at a time when other offers were being made to purchase the lake.

Black & Veatch’s analysis of the dam in 2009 included issues with the bulkheads and the concrete of the dam. The study concluded that if water were to rise over the top of the dam the structure would become unstable.

In the history of the Turner Shoals Dam, water has never risen to the top, with Black & Veatch engineers saying in order for that to occur the area would have to see a flood of biblical proportions.

Black & Veatch engineers also in 2009 recommended that commissioners budget between $50,000-$100,000 per year to make the needed repairs to the dam. Commissioners later decided to budget $200,000 annually towards dam repairs. The current board of commissioners has recently lowered the annual savings to a recent $50,000.

Polk County decided in May 2008 to purchase the lakebed as a future water source from Northbrook Carolina Hydro LLC.

Northbrook continues today to operate its power plant located at the dam. In 2009, it was noted that Polk County was permitted to pull eight million gallons per day out of the lake for its needs. The proposed contract with ICWD will allow ICWD to pull the maximum eight million gallons per day from the lake.

In 2009, Polk was planning in the future to obtain permits and construct a water plant near the county’s transfer station to produce water for county residents. Polk went through a long process to get state approval to reclassify the Lake Adger watershed, which has since been accomplished.