Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 27, 1995 TAG: 9506270050
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RICHARD FOSTER AND SHEBA WHEELER STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Two people died after heavy rains caused the dam to burst, draining the lake and sending millions of gallons of water into Buffalo Creek.
Chester F. ``Skip'' Watts - who heads Radford University's Institute of Geological Sciences - will hold a news conference at 11 a.m. today at the university to demonstrate his findings with computer animation software.
``In 1991, we were asked to conduct a study of Timber Lake, and we developed a computer model to model runoff,'' he said. ``That model showed construction in the watershed had increased the flow of water into the lake dramatically.''
Bud Koiner, president of the 110-household Timberlake Homeowners Association, said, ``We don't know about that particular study, but it doesn't take a study to show that construction around the watershed causes a heck of a lot more water to run off than if it was woods or farmland.
``That was one of the reasons why the water buildup in the lake [Thursday night] was so rapid.''
Highway construction has added at least 33,000 cubic yards of silt to the lake, which has raised water levels, according to the association's newsletter.
Engineers from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation examined the remains of the dam over the weekend and said the rainfall was just too much for the dam.
``The dam was in good shape. But with the amount of rainfall, it just exceeded the capacity of the dam,'' department spokesman Gary Waugh said.
The 600-foot-long, 33-foot-high dam, which was built in 1926, was not subject to water-capacity requirements outlined in the state's Dam Safety Act passed in 1981. But Waugh said the dam would have overflowed even if it had the increased capacity of those built since the act took effect.
According to the Army Corps of Engineers, dams in the area that includes Timberlake should be built to withstand maximum rainfall of 7.2 inches in 24 hours. Last week's storm dropped 8.5 to 10 inches of rain in less than 24 hours.
The earthen dam was inspected each year, as required by state law, Waugh said. Four months ago, state engineers corrected a spillway problem that was causing erosion.
Timberlake homeowners decided at an emergency meeting Friday night to replace the dam. Finance and construction committees were formed to study the problem.
When the dam broke Thursday night, the rush of water down the creek knocked cars from a bridge a mile south on U.S. 460, submerging them. Volunteer firefighter Carter Martin, 41, was killed checking those cars, not knowing everyone in them had escaped.
Closer to the dam, north of U.S. 460 in Campbell County, Doris Stanley, 58, was killed when her car was caught in the water's path. Her body was found Sunday.
A memorial service for her will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Diuguid Funeral Service in Lynchburg.
Last week's storm also caused high water in Buena Vista, where business owners along the Maury River said the city's $36 million flood-protection plan - though incomplete - may have saved them.
Businesses such as Modine Manufacturers, Mundet Hermetite Inc., and the Fitzgerald Lumber and Log Co. have been damaged by past floods, but were left virtually untouched this time.
The Corps of Engineers designed the flood-control system, which includes a concrete flood wall, an earthen levee and a canal for diverting mountain runoff.
The system did not control flooding on interior streams, however, City Engineer Stephen King said.
More than 150 homes were damaged in Buena Vista, and one was completely washed out. Flood damage is estimated at $1.56 million - about $600,000 less than in the 1992 flood.
Rockbridge County suffered $3.01 million in total flood damage - most of which occurred on roadways, particularly in the Timber Ridge area.
More than 100 people were placed in five public shelters there and 25 more were in temporary housing.
by CNB