Several state parks across central North Carolina remain closed due to the flooding damage caused by Tropical Depression Chantal and continued rain.
Flooding from Sunday’s storms and the days of rain that followed left poor conditions at parks from Kerr Lake to the Lumber River.
At Jordan Lake, state parks officials are warning people that some areas are dangerous because of the impact of the storm. According to ncparks.gov, several Jordan Lake facilities are closed due to flooding, including boat ramps and swim beaches at Parkers Creek, Ebenezer Church and Seaforth accesses. Several campsites are also closed.
Jordan Lake is about 13 feet above its usual water level, according to park officials, and several other state parks are either shut down or partially closed due to high water levels and storm damage.
Brian Strong, director of North Carolina State Parks, said the state plans to reopen most of the parks next week, but water levels have to recede before crews can begin to clean up piles of debris that make it dangerous for people to go out on the water.
“You don’t know what’s under there, so really be safe when you’re out there, especially if the water remains murky for a while,” Strong said. “You can’t see the bottom. When you go down, you really have to be careful about what’s there, what’s not there and what’s been moved around.”
Crews found two bodies at Jordan Lake this week believed to be missing boaters who launched their canoe from the Martha’s Chapel Road access on Sunday evening.
Chatham County Chief Deputy Steve Maynor advised people to avoid the shore areas that are not maintained by state parks and echoed Strong’s message about deceiving waters.
“There’s obstacles under the water, and right now, you’re swimming above trees if you’re in those shorelines,” Maynor said. “We urge you, if you’re gonna be in the water, wear your life jacket. If you can’t see the bottom, you need to be in a life jacket.”
The following parks currently have closures in place:
Eno River State Park: Closed due to high waterJordan Lake State Recreation Area: Several facilities closed due to flooding. Boat ramps and swim beaches at Parkers Creek, Ebenezer Church, and Seaforth accesses are closed until further notice. Several campsites are also closed.Lumber River State Park: All trails at Chalk Banks Access are closed due to excessive rainfall from the storm.
Falls Lake State Recreation Area and Kerr Lake State Recreation Area were closed after the storms but have since reopened.
The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation encourages visitors to check ncparks.gov or call the park directly for the most up-to-date information on specific closures, including trails, boat ramps, campgrounds and day-use areas.
If you have a camping reservation at an affected park, you will be contacted about alternate campsites or the option to request a full refund.
Use caution around flooded areas and never attempt to enter closed sections of a park.