Hope Mills Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hope Mills Lake |
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Hope Mills Lake in June 2010
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 Hope Mills Lake
Location in North Carolina
Hope Mills Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Hope Mills, Cumberland County, North Carolina, US |
| Coordinates | 34°58′25.59″N 78°56′43.10″W / 34.9737750°N 78.9453056°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Little Rockfish Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 88 acres (36 ha) |
Hope Mills Lake, sometimes called Hope Mills Lake #1, is a body of water in Hope Mills. It is located in Cumberland County, North Carolina. Older citizens sometimes call it "The Pond." This lake is actually a reservoir, which means it was created by people.
It was formed by building a dam across Little Rockfish Creek. The lake was first created in 1839. It was built to power the first cotton mill in the area. At that time, the area was known as Little Rockfish Village.
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The Story of Hope Mills Lake
How the Lake Was Formed
Hope Mills Lake started as a mill pond way back in 1839. A mill pond is a small lake created to provide water power for a mill. This particular pond was built near the Hope Mills Dam. It was made to help run the first cotton mill in the area. The place was called Little Rockfish Village at the time.
Challenges with the Dam
Over the years, the dam that held back the lake faced several problems. In 2003, very heavy rains caused the dam to break. This was an earthen dam, meaning it was made mostly of compacted soil. When it broke, the lake was accidentally drained.
For five years, the lake remained empty. People in the community wanted to see their lake restored.
Efforts to Restore the Lake
Because the lake was not restored quickly, a group of people formed an organization. They called themselves the Friends of Hope Mills Lake. This group became a non-profit organization in North Carolina in 2006. Their goal was to help raise money and support for fixing the dam. They wanted the lake to be restored as soon as possible.
In 2008, a new dam was finally completed. For the first time in five years, the lake was full again! This was a happy moment for the community.
Another Draining for Safety
However, the lake's challenges were not over. In June 2010, the lake was intentionally drained again. This was done for safety reasons. An inspection found a problem under the dam's structure. Water was leaking through a sinkhole. A sinkhole is a hole in the ground that forms when rock dissolves. This leak made the dam unsafe, so the lake had to be emptied to fix it.
The history of Hope Mills Lake shows how important this body of water is to the local community. People have worked hard to keep it a part of Hope Mills.
