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City Asks for No More Delays in State and Federal Government Action to Protect Water Supply

The City of Salisbury today asked for help from President Trump, North Carolina’s U.S. Senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, Congressmen Ted Budd and Richard Hudson, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (called FERC), Governor Roy Cooper, and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (or DEQ). The City Council by resolution requested that the State of North Carolina and the United States government immediately require the implementation of flood protection measures the State and Federal Government mandated in 2015 and 2016 to prevent the disruption and destruction of infrastructure that is essential for the operation of Salisbury’s water supply system.

In early February 2020, rising Yadkin River levels threatened to destroy Salisbury’s water supply pumping equipment at the Yadkin River. The City was forced to turn off power to its water supply pumps from February 7 – 9, 2020 due to the imminent danger of water reaching electrical equipment. Salisbury engineers estimate the flood was only about a “10-year” event – meaning it is inevitable that there will be more severe floods and that pumping equipment will be destroyed.

The flood threat would be eliminated if federally-required and State-required flood protection measures were in place. They are not. Although the flood protection measures have been required by both DEQ and FERC since 2016, the necessary infrastructure construction project has not begun, and so far there is no plan in place for the project. The project is supposed to be completed by Cube Yadkin Generation LLC, the owner of High Rock Dam.

The severity of the flooding in February was caused by a massive “sediment delta” that restricts river flow. The sediment delta, caused by High Rock Dam, is several miles long and continues to grow. The prior dam owner, Alcoa Power Generating Inc., argued High Rock Dam does not cause the flood and sedimentation problems. However, Salisbury commissioned expert studies and took the unusual step of asking FERC to obtain independent scientific peer review of the City-commissioned studies. FERC did so and concluded the studies were reliable. In 2007, FERC published a Final Environmental Impact Statement that explained in detail how High Rock Dam causes the sediment delta, flooding, and sedimentation problems.

In fall 2018, Cube Yadkin proposed to implement some but not all of the required flood protection measures. Salisbury asked FERC to require implementation of a plan that is better-engineered and that meets all requirements. FERC has not published a decision.

Salisbury’s water supply system provides potable water and fire-fighting flows for 52,000 North Carolinians in Salisbury, China Grove, Cleveland, East Spencer, Granite Quarry, Kannapolis, Landis, Rockwell, Spencer, and in unincorporated areas of Rowan County.


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05/2025Rock Out at Cheerwine Festival | Cheers for Shirt Design Winner | Festival Shuttle Service | Festival Information
04/2025Statewide Litter Sweep, Fair Housing Month, BlockWork Call For Neighborhoods, Sidewalk Poetry Call For Poets, Paint the Pavement Call for Artists
03/2025Cheerwine Festival T-Shirt Contest, Spring Spruce Up Week, Protect Your Water Bill, Pilot Traffic Circle
02/2025Tips For Cold Weather, Cheerwine Festival on May 17, Join A City Board, Tree Give-A-Away
01/2025Downtown Winners, BlockWork T-Shirt Contest, MLK Weekend, Wine About Winter, Leaf Collection, Recycling Calendar
12/2024Holiday Contests | Spruce Up Week | Sculpture Show Call For Artists | Empire Hotel Phase 1
11/2024Holiday Events | Safe Shopping Tips | Toss The Grease | Greenway Committee | 130 S. Main St. Survey
10/2024Halloween Safety Tips | Sculpture Show Call For Neighborhoods | Recycling Do's and Don'ts | Leaf Collection Guidelines and Map | Fall Spruce Up Week
10/2024Halloween Safety Tips | Sculpture Show Call For Neighborhoods | Recycling Do's and Don'ts | Leaf Collection Guidelines and Map | Fall Spruce Up Week
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07/2024National Night Out | Footbridge Repairs | Approved City Budget | Citizen's Academy | Hurricane Prep
07/2024National Night Out | Footbridge Repairs | Approved City Budget | Citizen's Academy | Hurricane Prep
04/2024Strategic Plan | Mental Health Crisis Line | BlockWork Call For Neighborhoods | Paint the Pavement Call For Artists | Meet the Sculpture Show Artists
11/2023Holiday Events | Toss The Grease | Housing Survey | Bike Giveaway | Sculpture Show
09/2023Rowan Creek Week | Leaf Collection | BlockWork Volunteers | New Deputy City Manager | Bell Tower Brewfest
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06/2023Dive into Local Pool | Humanitarian Awards | Summer Spruce Up Week | City Budget Updates
03/2023Beautify Salisbury - Litter Sweeps, BlockWork, Adopt-A-Street, We Dig Salisbury | Cheerwine Festival | Salisbury311
01/2023Downtown Decor Displays Holiday Spirit | MLK Celebration | Humanitarian Nominations | Wine About Winter Tickets On Sale | Reader Survey
12/2022Sculpture Calls For Artists | Winter Spruce Up Week | Feedback On Our Future | Be The Difference With A City Career | Holiday Recycling
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11/2022Holiday Events | Salisbury Youth Council Inducts New Members | Tips to Shop Safe | Toss the Grease
11/2022Holiday Events | Salisbury Youth Council Inducts New Members | Tips to Shop Safe | Toss the Grease
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08/2022Kudos To Lifeguards | Grant to Fund Flood, Road Sensors | Funds for Family Water Bills | City Awarded For Good Health
07/2022Sculpture Show | Citizen's Academy | Hurricane Season Tips | West End Survey | Council Approves Budget
05/2022New City Manager | Cheerwine Festival | Local Humanitarian Awards | BlockWork Applications Open
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05/2022New City Manager | Cheerwine Festival | Local Humanitarian Awards | BlockWork Applications Open
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03/2022Cheerwine Festival Returns | 5 Ways to Pay Your BIll | SPD Receives Grant | Spring Spruce Up Week
12/2021Be A Part of Our Public Art | SRU Recognized For Quality | Don't let FOG Take Your Holiday Down the Drain
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10/2021Fire Prevention Week | BlockWork Looking For Volunteers | Leaf Collection Map
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08/2021Rowan Creek Week | Back-to-School Resource Fair | New Crime Information Center | Blockwork Awarded Lowe's Grant For $100,000
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07/2021Salisbury Cease Fire | Citizen's Academy | Summer Spruce Up Week | Sculpture Show
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01/2021Holiday Storefront Winners, Celebrate MLK, Main St. Plan, Nominate A Local Hero, Funds For Fire Suppression
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07/2020Citizen's Academy | Mobile Recreation | Keep Our Parks Beautiful | Recycling Can Swap | Employee Spotlight
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08/2019Salisbury Youth Employees | New SPD Initiatives | Youth Baseball Camp | Brewbury Fest Returns | Recycling
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02/2019Cheerwine Festival Vendor Applications Open | Get Involved, Apply Now | Fair Housing Seeks Volunteers | Council Retreat Open to Public | Snow Safety | Employee Spotlight | Main St. Conference in Salisbury
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01/2019EDK Nominations | Holiday Storefront Awards | Celebrating MLK Weekend | Employee Spotlight | Winter Spruce Up Week | Transit Survey | New Tools Keeps An Eye On Water

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