NORTH CAROLINA, USA — Duke Energy officials tell WFMY News 2 the water level at Belews Lake in Rockingham County was dropped one foot.
This comes in anticipation of Debby's heavy rainfall.
Madison Fire Rescue said its lowering has caused the Dan River to close. Officials said this was expected but they are keeping an eye out on water levels.
"Right now it is above the minimum level that we require... we monitor the levels of the park every single day with the technology that we have in place," Madison Fire Chief Jim Ritchie said.
A North Carolina A&T professor said the lowering of the lake helps manage potential flooding.
"We are expecting heavy rainfall so we should let some water go and the incoming water will fill it up. If you take the average height of a lake it might not be equating that much. For the lake level to increase you need longer and heavy rainfall," Atmospheric Science Professor Ademe Mekonnen said.
Madison Fire tells us the re-opening of the Dan River all depends on when the water levels lower and that could take a few days.
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