Lake Overton near the Three Fountains North neighborhood hasn't been the same since Hurricane Gaston hit in 2004. Two decades later, Henrico is moving forward with safety and environmental improvements.

On April 18, county leaders broke ground on a new earthen dam at Lake Overton. The lake has been at a lowered water level since the former dam sustained damage during Gaston. As a result, it shrunk from around 7.5 acres to about 4.3 acres.

In the years since, the Three Fountains North Civic Association has maintained the lake. Now, it will undergo $1.5 million in improvements including adding native plants, greater erosion control, and a walking path for the community. The project should take around nine months to complete.

Homes in the Three Fountains North and Overbrook Park neighborhoods back up to the lake. | Photo via Henrico County

County leaders emphasized the environmental and public benefits the rehab project will create. The lake won't be as large as it once was, but it should be an area of increased accessibility and opportunity for community members.

"It's a win for the neighborhood and all of Henrico County," Fairfield District Supervisor Roscoe Cooper said.

Several community members were present at the groundbreaking, including Richard Flanagan, the president of the civic association. Flanagan took to the podium to thank his neighbors for their longstanding maintenance of the resource.

"Hurricane Gaston dumped a lot of water on our lake," Flanagan said. "I know it was 11 inches per two hours, because that's what I dumped out of my basement."

With the help of the county, Flanagan expressed hope that Lake Overton will become an even more valuable asset to the community once the project is complete.