Resident group warns of damage, sediment and public-safety risks at privately owned Kenilworth Lake dam; city staff point to state dam-safety jurisdiction

Speakers representing the Kenilworth Lake Preservation Association told the council that sediment buildup and hurricane damage have reduced Kenilworth Lake’s capacity and impaired dam infrastructure, creating a potential high-hazard risk for Biltmore Village and downstream neighborhoods.

Eric Fisher, speaking for the association, described concerns including sedimentation, damage to a siphon system and gate valve that limit the ability to lower lake levels ahead of storms, toxic algae blooms associated with higher water temperatures, and discarded syringes and debris flowing over the dam into downstream waterways. Fisher said the association had documented its…