“A recent site inspection revealed seepage through the dam at the northern end of the lake,” said Dan Leonard, director of the PFBC Bureau of Engineering. “After consulting with dam safety officials at the Department of Environmental Protection, the decision was made to begin a controlled partial drawdown of the lake. We recognize the lake is a popular attraction, but we must ensure first and foremost that the facility remains safe for public use.”

PFBC engineers began lowering the lake yesterday and are expected to finish by Nov. 28. Anglers can continue to fish at the lake during the drawdown, and the lake will remain open to public use after the water level is lowered.

Leonard said the PFBC engineers will continue to monitor the lake throughout the winter to see if lowering the water level stops the seepage which was observed.

Located in Crawford County, Tamarack Lake is a 562-acre reservoir located three miles southeast of Meadville. The lake is owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and maintained by the Fish and Boat Commission for public fishing and boating. The reservoir is unique because there are dams at both ends of the reservoir with a shallow area in the middle. Maximum depth in the lake is only about 13 feet.

This is the second time the lake is being drawn down because of structural issues with the dams. In early spring 1999, Tamarack Lake was completely drained so that safety modifications could be made to the outlet structures on both dams. The modifications were completed in the summer of 1999 and the reservoir was fully refilled by the spring of 2000.

The mission of the Fish and Boat Commission is to protect, conserve, and enhance the Commonwealth’s aquatic resources and provide fishing and boating opportunities. For more information about fishing and boating in Pennsylvania, please visit our website at fishandboat.com.

Contact

Eric Levis
717.705.7806
elevis@pa.gov