Lyman Lake refill order nearing

Officials at Lyman Run State Park are hoping to receive a "fill order" in the coming days so they can begin to restore the 40-acre Lyman Lake, one of the region's premier tourist attractions.

Once the order is issued by the Pa. Dept. of Environmental Protection, it will take more than three months for the manmade lake to return, according to Chip Harrison, park manager.

Gradually, tiny Lyman Run and other water sources will fill the impoundment. Plans call for the lake to increase in depth by about one foot per day for the first 13 days, after which time the filling will be suspended for at least 10 days while various inspections are performed.

Then, another five feet will be added, followed by another series of checks on the dam and other conditions. If all is well, the lake restoration will continue until it is filled. Park officials aren't yet able to forecast when the lake will reopen for recreational use.

The most recent delays in obtaining the fill order are the result of surface cracks which have been observed in portions of the concrete. Engineers from Lehigh University have been investigating.

Harrison said that, from what he has been been told, the cracks are not likely to be a serious issue.

"We do not believe they are structural issues," Harrison told Radio Station WFRM. "We believe they are maintenance issues."

Lyman Run State Park had averaged about 130,000 visitors per year prior to the draining of the lake. When the facility reopens, it will feature new modern restrooms and shower facilities in two of its campgrounds.

The new dam features a modern zig-zag design that will increase water flow to maintain steady water levels in the lake. It is 50 feet high and 1,000 feet long.

A previous dam had stood since the early 1950s, creating a cold-water lake that was popular with trout anglers, boaters and swimmers. A lake drawdown began in mid-April 2000.

The dam breaching and eventual replacement were required after the Pa. Dept. of Environmental Protection found structural deficiencies and declared the dam unsafe.

As the dam was removed, contractors found excessive amounts of rocks used as construction material, with roots, branches and other organic matter used as fill. The dam had experienced seeps and leakage almost since its construction.

Contractor Allan A. Myers of Worcester was successful bidder for the removal of the old dam and construction of the new one. Work began in April 2004. The state is spending about $17 million on the project.