By Matt de Simone
At last Tuesday’s meeting, the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors voted to accept a Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) grant that could help fund the potential draining of Orchard Lake, but took no action on a separate proposal to create a service district that would tax property owners to support the project.
The two related agenda items produced different outcomes. The proposed service district ordinance, which would have imposed a special tax on homeowners in the Orchard Lake subdivision to help pay for dam removal, drew significant opposition from residents. After nearly an hour of public comment, the board deferred a vote and directed county staff to continue working with engineers and legal advisors, while also exploring other funding options.
The DCR grant was handled separately and received unanimous approval from the board. The grant offers up to 50 percent of the total cost— capped at $500,000— to breach and permanently remove the Orchard Lake dam, which has been found to be non-compliant with state dam safety regulations. The estimated total cost of the project is $1 million. The grant requires the county to commit by October 17 and complete the work within two years. If actual costs are lower, DCR will fund 50 percent of the final amount. If costs exceed $1 million, the county plans to seek additional grants to maintain the 50/50 cost-sharing model.
County staff clarified that accepting the grant does not obligate the county or the dam’s private co-owners to proceed with the project. The funds can still be declined later if another solution is identified.
The proposed service district would have allowed the county to levy a special tax on Orchard Lake properties, calculated similarly to the county’s real estate tax. Based on a 15-year repayment schedule at 0% interest, the proposed rate would have been 14 cents per $100 of assessed value— resulting in annual payments ranging from $400 to $1,200 for most property owners.
Public comments included remarks from both candidates for the Amsterdam District seat on the Board of Supervisors.
Republican nominee Tim Snyder urged the board to consider alternatives to a special tax district, emphasizing the need for a full risk assessment before any decisions are made. He said residents aren’t avoiding responsibility but deserve time to explore solutions that won’t impose uncertain costs—particularly on property owners who don’t use the lake.
Write-in candidate Linda George, an Orchard Lake resident, reiterated calls for caution. She warned of the project’s potential impact on nearby communities and criticized the lack of clear answers from the Department of Conservation and Recreation. George said the county should not make permanent decisions based on incomplete data and that residents deserve clarity before any commitments are made.
Daryl and Julie Fraze, who co-own the dam with the county, also addressed the board. They urged the supervisors to accept the grant and “put it to the use it was made for.” According to the Frazes, the dam’s age, the presence of a leak, and the fact that a high-pressure gas main runs through it make the area hazardous. They noted that the leak passes over the gas line and is “bubbling on top of the ground.”
“The dam’s a high hazard not because of neglect,” Daryl said. “The overflow pipe is too small. The spillway is too small. There are no drain ports and no plunge pool— all that are required in today’s dam. They were not required several years ago.” He warned that future heavy rains could worsen the situation and risk lives if the gas main were compromised. “Taking the dam down should be a requirement, not an option,” he added.
Julie echoed her husband’s concerns and shared that over the 23 years they’ve co-owned the dam, it has evolved from an agricultural pond into a state-regulated dam capable of impounding 105 acre-feet of water— equivalent to one foot of water spread across 105 acres. “We have seen more and more water coming into the lake and spilling out,” she said. “And this is because there have been significant local businesses and subdivisions built and land has been paved, increasing the runoff into the lake.” Julie also cited the increasing frequency of high winds and heavy rains across the eastern U.S., expressing concern that the dam will not be able to handle future storm events in its current condition.
She recalled how, following the impact of Hurricane Helene last fall, DCR contacted them and asked for the lake to be lowered by six inches. “We can’t do that,” Julie said. She emphasized that many of the problems stem from the original design of the lake and dam, and that past administrations failed to consider how the structure could negatively impact the area 50 to 70 years down the road. The Frazes insisted that they have been working on solutions for the past three years— “not five weeks,” as some residents have suggested.
Board Chair Amy White asked County Administrator Gary Larrowe to explain why the DCR identified the dam as a problem at this time. “I think that it goes back to either (20)21 or ’22 and there was a letter sent to the Frazes from DCR,” Larrowe said. “These dams are all across the state and they (the DCR) are working these in as they can and there was a visit from DCR— this is not anything new. DCR has been out there working on this since right after the regulations went into effect, I feel certain, and have identified that. They needed to see if there was action taken about breaching the dam, cleaning the dam up, modifying the dam… and so (the Frazes) ended up getting a letter to that effect.”
During public comment, one resident compared Orchard Lake to a “mini Smith Mountain Lake,” suggesting it has recreational and aesthetic value worth preserving. Others questioned whether the county had done enough to pursue alternative funding, with some suggesting that as much as $2 million might be available— far more than the $500,000 offered through the DCR grant.
This discussion followed earlier public engagement and board review. At the Sept. 10 meeting, residents heard from DCR and county legal staff. That session previewed many of the same concerns brought up again at last Tuesday’s meeting and underscored the continuing disagreement over the lake’s future and how best to fund any action.
By voting to accept the grant while delaying a decision on the service district, the board kept its options open. County officials will continue conversations with engineers, financial staff, and residents as they consider next steps.
The future of the Orchard Lake dam remains uncertain. The county continues to weigh regulatory requirements, financial implications, and the concerns of residents— many of whom remain deeply invested in the outcome.
For now, the board emphasized ongoing review rather than final decisions. The community remains engaged as the situation develops. To watch the full Sept. 23 meeting, visit the Botetourt County YouTube channel stream at https://youtu.be/F_8GrEisJUQ.
