Park officials expect go ahead to restore Lyman Lake soon

Members of the Potter County Visitors Assn. (PCVA) held their annual meeting at Lyman Run State Park, a facility that's critical to their mission of boosting the tourist industry in the coming years.

Park Manager Chip Harrison guided a tour of the new dam and confirmed that state officials are likely to soon give his team the go-ahead to restore the 40-acre Lyman Lake.

The park was once a premier tourist attraction, drawing about 130,000 visitors a year. However, the lake was drained in 2000 after structural deficiencies were detected in the dam. PCVA and local leaders lobbied long and hard for a new dam, which the state approved in 2004, at a cost of about $17 million.

Harrison said consulting engineers at Lehigh University have determined that surface cracks recently detected in an inspection of the new dam are not a sign of structural weakness.

"Preliminary reports already indicate that we shouldn't have anything to worry about," Harrison told PCVA members.

Once the refill order is issued by the Pa. Dept. of Environmental Protection, tiny Lyman Run and other water sources will fill the impoundment over a period of three to four months. That order had still not been received as of Friday.

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 while inspections are performed. Another five feet will be then be added, followed by more checks. If all is well, the lake restoration will then be completed. Park officials aren't yet able to forecast when the lake will reopen for recreational use.

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. The dam had experienced seeps and leakage almost since its construction. As it was removed, crews for contractor Allan A. Myers of Worcester found excessive amounts of rocks used as construction material, with roots, branches and other organic matter used as fill.

The lake's absence has hit some of Potter County's touristbased businesses hard over the past seven years, according to PCVA Executive Director David Brooks.

However, their patience will be rewarded. Not only will the lake return for the 2008 summer season, Lyman Run State Park will also feature new, modern restrooms and shower facilities in two of its campgrounds.

Nearby Cherry Springs State Park is also in for a multimillion dollar investment by the state, including a visitors' center and further development of its dark skies astronomy viewing facilities. Harrison, who also manages Cherry Springs, said that park is "really taking off."

"We've had more than 100 astronomers in the field during the non-event weekends," Harrison said, adding that observation domes now in place are regularly being rented by stargazers.

John Abplanalp, representing Coudersport Rotary Club, and John Berthoud, operator of the Austin Campground, were elected as new members of the PCVA board of directors. Reelected were Gerri Miller, Radio Station WFRM; Amber Neefe, Sweden Valley Inn, and Shawn Schoonover, Ski Denton.

Other board members are Donald Gilliland, Potter Leader-Enterprise; Doug Morley, Northwest Savings Bank; Kim Mitchell, Mitchell's Accounting Services; Trish Berberich, Pennsylvania Lumber Museum; and Walter Baker, Hotel Crittenden.

PCVA's new officers are as follows: Walter Baker, president; Trish Berberich, vice president; Donald Gilliland, secretary; Kim Mitchell, treasurer.