20 years after Gaston’s rains, Henrico celebrates start of work to revive Lake Overton
Project will bring new dam, environmental improvements, public access
Richard Flanagan can’t wait to see Lake Overton vibrant once again, with fishing and other recreation, as it was before Hurricane Gaston’s remnants brought pounding rain in 2004.
“I know it was 11 inches per two hours, because that’s what I dumped out of my basement,” said Flanagan, president of the Three Fountains North Civic Association.
The storm damaged the lake’s earthen dam so severely that the water level had to be lowered to ensure safety. As a result, the lake’s footprint shrunk from about 7.5 acres to about 4.3 acres.
Today, Flanagan and other residents joined Henrico County officials in celebrating the start of a project that will revive the lake to about 5.4 acres and deliver a new dam and a host of environmental improvements. It also will clear the way to provide public access to the lake by extending a trail from nearby Three Lakes Park.
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