On October 31, 2024, the Mountain Retreat Association (MRA) dba Montreat Conference Center began a project to restore and revitalize the much beloved Lake Susan on its campus in Montreat. The lake and accompanying dam have long served as an important stormwater reservoir and flood control device. During Hurricane Helene and its aftermath, significant amounts of sediment and debris were captured in Lake Susan, only increasing the importance of the previously scheduled dredging.
Equipment staging and site preparations began on October 30, 2024. Parking on Assembly Drive above the lake will be closed until project completion, scheduled for the end of December.
Lake Susan, the centerpiece of the conference center’s 127-year-old campus and the largest stormwater retention facility in Montreat, serves as an important resource for managing water flow in Montreat and into neighboring Black Mountain. Last dredged in the early 2000s, the lake’s holding capacity has significantly declined in recent years due to erosion upstream and the accumulation of sediment in the basin. Hurricane Helene more than doubled the amount of accumulated sediment in the lakebed. The restoration project will address the accumulated damage and create a more sustainable, long-term solution to this crucial community resource.
Originally funded through a grant in the State of North Carolina’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget, the months of preparation and engineering already invested in the project have made this immediate renewal and restoration work possible. “We are deeply grateful to receive this funding,” said Richard DuBose, president for the Mountain Retreat Association. “This investment allows us the ability to move quickly to restore Lake Susan in the immediate aftermath of the hurricane and to provide a sustainable solution to the ongoing challenges of sediment build-up. Our goal is to ensure the continued effectiveness of the stormwater retention system while preserving the beauty and ecological health of this natural resource.”
The MRA acknowledges the vital support of several state representatives who played a pivotal role in securing the funding for this project, including Representative Eric Ager, Senator Julie Mayfield, and Senator Warren Daniel. Additionally, partners in the preparation and implementation of this project include Blue Earth Planning, Engineering and Design, Headwaters Environmental Inc., and Osgood Landscape Architecture, as well as contractor Chonzie, Inc. Finally, the Town of Montreat has been a vital partner in permitting and logistics, addressing the greatly enhanced scope of this project and its abbreviated timeline.
This project marks the latest in a series of initiatives undertaken by the MRA to promote environmental sustainability and enhance the well-being of Montreat and surrounding communities.
The Mountain Retreat Association (MRA) dba Montreat Conference Center, which operates the conference center, was founded in 1897. Affiliated with the Presbyterian Church since 1907, conferencing soon opened the door for the development of the cottages and residences in Montreat today. In addition to the year-round schedule of programs and activities, many community residents know Montreat for its walking paths, trails, and parks, with more than half of the MRA’s original land preserved for green space and conservation.