MONROE, N.C.,None — Dozens of residents who live on Lake Twitty in Monroe are upset over city officials' plans to plant shrubbery and trees along the edge of the lake.
City officials are hosting a meeting Tuesday night to discuss the controversial plan, which was set in motion a few months ago when city officials decided to enforce a state law after years of ignoring it.
"If it's being enforced, it's being enforced selectively," said homeowner Lance Dunn.
Dunn has lived on Lake Twitty for four years. The lake is the city's sole source of drinking water for approximately 50,000 residents and was recently placed on a "watch list" by state water quality officials because of high levels of algae.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental and Natural Resources said the high levels are caused by environmental pollution and runoff.
That's why city officials decided to enforce the law and create a 30-foot "buffer zone" around the lake's edge in hopes the vegetation will prevent further water contamination.
"We want everybody to fully understand that we are not taking away their property rights. We just need to make sure we are getting clean water to our residents," said city spokesman Pete Hovanec.
The city owns Lake Twitty, and the "buffer zone" area around the lake edge, which is why officials have the legal right to plant the shrubbery. But residents like Lance Dunn worry the changes will impact their property value -- and the invaluable lakeside view.
"The quality of this lake is important to me; I use, I boat on it, I look at it. But everybody paid a premium for the view, and that's why we're here," Dunn said.
City officials said the vegetation restoration project will eventually extend to Monroe's two other bodies of water, Lake Lee and Lake Monroe.
WSOC
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