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Tega Cay residents press council for action as sediment fills Nivens Cove
Summary
Several residents told council that sediment from recent development is filling Nivens Cove and blocking dock access; they urged the city to convene agencies, consider dredging and hold developers accountable. Council directed staff to engage relevant parties and investigate options.
Multiple waterfront residents addressed the council on May 18 about accelerating sedimentation in Nivens Cove and Nivens Creek, which they said has compromised dock access and property values.
Mike Becker told council sediment is moving through a three‑foot culvert from a nearby Grove construction site into the lake and urged the city to stop work until the problem is fixed. "How hard can it be to stop sediment going through a three foot culvert?" Becker asked, saying the problem has persisted for eight or nine years.
Lisa Ponczynski asked the city to convene a multi‑agency meeting including Duke (Energy), the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services and the Army Corps of Engineers to identify remediation steps and permitting options. "Dredging is looking more and more like the only option to remediate what the development of the last 10 plus years have done," she said.
Mike Dye and Gus Matunas described lost boat access at their docks and urged stronger enforcement and coordination with developers. Gus Matunas said the development work has repeatedly changed creek dynamics and pleaded for concrete remedies.
What the city said: City staff noted the Grove project continues to install underground infrastructure and that technical reviews are ongoing for nearby commercial submittals; they reiterated staff will coordinate with developers and report back. Council members asked staff to set up a meeting with the relevant agencies and to include resident representatives.
Status: Residents requested actions including meetings with state and federal agencies, investigation of dredging feasibility and increased enforcement; council directed staff to pursue interagency coordination and follow up with the community.
