The Wake Forest Reservoir closes Monday, Nov. 9, and the lake will be drawn down for work on the dam and spillway. Boating and fishing will be restricted.

The Wake Forest Reservoir closes to the public Monday, Nov. 9. The town is lowering the lake so a contractor can rebuild parts of the dam.

Zachry Construction, working for the Town of Wake Forest, will close access to the reservoir that day, the town said in a notice Wednesday. The work covers the dam embankment, the spillway and the outlet structure. The town said it is meant to improve the reservoir’s long-term safety and reliability.

The town has not said how long the reservoir will be closed or when the lake will be full again.

Three phases

The town set out the project in three stages:

  • Drawdown. During the week of Nov. 9, the town starts lowering the lake. The level drops gradually over several weeks. Weather and site conditions may change the timing.
  • Construction. Once the water is low enough, crews work on the dam, the spillway and the outlet structure. The work includes earthwork, demolition and site improvements.
  • Refill. When the work is done and the town is authorized to restore the reservoir, the lake refills naturally. How fast depends on rainfall.

What you will notice

During the drawdown and construction, the town said people may see:

  • shorelines receding and parts of the lakebed exposed
  • restrictions or closures on boating, fishing and other recreation
  • odors from exposed lake sediment
  • more construction equipment and truck traffic around the site
  • effects on fish and other aquatic wildlife

Fish populations and habitat may take time to recover after the project, the town said.

Stay off the lakebed

The town asked people and pets to stay out of all construction areas. Exposed lakebed can hide deep mud, unstable soil and steep slopes, and water levels and flows can change without notice, it said. Do not try to cross the dam or the spillway, and follow posted signs and barricades.

What the reservoir is

The reservoir was built as the town’s drinking water source in the early 1960s, according to the town’s reservoir page. Falls Lake is now the main water source. The reservoir came back to town ownership in September 2019.

It is open to paddle and electric boats, with a small concrete boat ramp by the parking lot. Fishing is allowed with a license. A 1.6-mile natural-surface trail runs up the west side to Oak Grove Church Road. The parking lot is off Traditions Grande Boulevard near Wait Avenue.

What it means for you

  • From Monday, Nov. 9, plan on the reservoir being closed. That includes boating and fishing. The notice does not single out the soft trail, which starts at the reservoir parking lot, so check with the town before you go.
  • For a walk instead, our walking and biking trails guide and parks guide list the town’s paved greenways and other parks.
  • Questions go to the town’s capital improvements program manager at smeyer@wakeforestnc.gov.
  • The town said it will post more on construction, recreation limits and the refill as the project goes on. We will update this story when it does.