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Residents tell council sediment from nearby development has filled lake coves; ask for DHEC, Army Corps involvement
Summary
Multiple residents urged the city to investigate sedimentation in coves and a widening, deepening creek they blame on nearby development, seeking state and federal environmental agency review and remediation.
Several Tega Cay residents used the Jan. 21 public-comment period to press the council for action after what they described as aggressive sedimentation and erosion tied to nearby development.
Mike Becker, who lives two properties from the waterfront, told council that when Trinity Point moved dirt in late 2018, erosion control was inadequate and a creek that passes under Stonecrest Boulevard began contributing heavy sediment to the cove in front of his property. “The end of the dock is six inches deep now,” Becker said, contrasting earlier conditions when the end of his dock reached about six feet of depth. He asked the city to engage the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to inspect erosion control measures, require a water curtain at the creek mouth to trap sediment and require developers to restore the lakebed where construction has added sediment.
Gus Machunas, another lakeside resident, described walking the creek with city staff and noted the creek has widened to about 14 feet and deepened to 14 feet in places; he raised concerns the culvert under Stonecrest Boulevard might be at risk of collapse and said he had repeatedly asked staff to involve the Army Corps of Engineers. “I need an answer better than, ‘well,’ because the cove is filling in and it's not right to fill in the cove and take away our rights to our waterfront property and make it water view,” Machunas said. He told council he had emailed staff and received some responses but said follow-up had been limited and he asked the city for clearer action and communication.
City staff acknowledged receiving resident reports, inspected the area and took photographs; staff said they would investigate and follow up, and council members asked staff to keep residents informed of next steps. No formal action or commitment to a specific outside agency review was recorded at the meeting, but councilmembers recommended the city pursue appropriate investigative steps and respond to the homeowners' requests.
Residents urged the city to get the creek and cove conditions evaluated and, if appropriate, require remediation by developers or seek external agency assistance. Council asked staff to continue follow-up outside of the meeting.
