Did I miss it? Doesnt say if they intend to fix the dam or leave it down. Fished there as a kid. Might have to take a road trip next spring and fish it again.
Commission to Draw Down Lower Woods Pond
Commission to Draw Down Lower Woods Pond
HARRISBURG, Pa. (Dec. 14) – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) announced today that it will begin to draw down Wayne County’s Lower Woods Pond after an evaluation of the lake’s earthen dam found that the structure does not meet current dam safety standards set by the Commonwealth.
“Failure of the dam does not appear to be imminent, but the dam’s earthen embankment and its spillway do not meet current engineering or regulatory standards,” said Jack Rokavec, PFBC chief of engineering. “In addition, observed seepage paths may be indicative of internal erosion which could represent a serious dam safety condition.”
“The Commission takes its regulatory and public safety responsibilities very seriously,” he added. “The Commission is drawing down the reservoir to protect the lives and property of the 25 residents living downstream.”
The lake can be drained at a rate of about a half foot per day. After the 91-acre lake is drawn down, a natural lake of approximately 50 acres is expected to remain. This is due to the fact that Lower Woods is a natural lake and the current dam acts to increase the size of the lake.
In preparation of the lower water level, the PFBC has temporarily lifted all seasons, sizes and creel limits on the lake and is encouraging anglers to responsibly take advantage of this temporary regulation change. The temporary regulations take effect immediately and will remain in place through March 31, 2013.
“We have chosen to temporarily lift the regulations in order to reduce the number of fish in the lake in anticipation of a reduced lake size,” said Dave Miko, chief of the PFBC Division of Fisheries Management. “We want anglers to fish the water and harvest and make good use out of as many fish as they can.”
As a result of the drawdown, the boat ramp has been closed. Notices will be posted at the site informing the public of the drawdown and the closure of the ramp.
Lower Woods Pond is located in Lebanon Township, Wayne County. It is owned by the Commonwealth and managed by the PFBC. Construction costs to repair the facility are estimated at $2 million.
The lake’s dam is one of 11 dams managed by the PFBC which are classified by the state Department of Environmental Protection as high-hazard and unsafe. Nine of the dams do not have funding. The PFBC estimates that it needs approximately $43 million to fix or replace the nine dams.
For more information about the PFBC’s revitalization program for high-hazard, unsafe dams, visit: http://fishandboat.com/dams/.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (Dec. 14) – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) announced today that it will begin to draw down Wayne County’s Lower Woods Pond after an evaluation of the lake’s earthen dam found that the structure does not meet current dam safety standards set by the Commonwealth.
“Failure of the dam does not appear to be imminent, but the dam’s earthen embankment and its spillway do not meet current engineering or regulatory standards,” said Jack Rokavec, PFBC chief of engineering. “In addition, observed seepage paths may be indicative of internal erosion which could represent a serious dam safety condition.”
“The Commission takes its regulatory and public safety responsibilities very seriously,” he added. “The Commission is drawing down the reservoir to protect the lives and property of the 25 residents living downstream.”
The lake can be drained at a rate of about a half foot per day. After the 91-acre lake is drawn down, a natural lake of approximately 50 acres is expected to remain. This is due to the fact that Lower Woods is a natural lake and the current dam acts to increase the size of the lake.
In preparation of the lower water level, the PFBC has temporarily lifted all seasons, sizes and creel limits on the lake and is encouraging anglers to responsibly take advantage of this temporary regulation change. The temporary regulations take effect immediately and will remain in place through March 31, 2013.
“We have chosen to temporarily lift the regulations in order to reduce the number of fish in the lake in anticipation of a reduced lake size,” said Dave Miko, chief of the PFBC Division of Fisheries Management. “We want anglers to fish the water and harvest and make good use out of as many fish as they can.”
As a result of the drawdown, the boat ramp has been closed. Notices will be posted at the site informing the public of the drawdown and the closure of the ramp.
Lower Woods Pond is located in Lebanon Township, Wayne County. It is owned by the Commonwealth and managed by the PFBC. Construction costs to repair the facility are estimated at $2 million.
The lake’s dam is one of 11 dams managed by the PFBC which are classified by the state Department of Environmental Protection as high-hazard and unsafe. Nine of the dams do not have funding. The PFBC estimates that it needs approximately $43 million to fix or replace the nine dams.
For more information about the PFBC’s revitalization program for high-hazard, unsafe dams, visit: http://fishandboat.com/dams/.
1 - 8 of 8 Posts
Enjoy it while you can. It will more than likely go the way the Rexmont supply dams went. They were a great place to fish and a lot of people enjoyed spending time there.
wont be able to ice fish it ...............i suppose with the decreasing water level, the ice wont be safe
They won't be happy until they are all gone.
More like another pitfall of underfunding our outdoor agencies.
no one wants to pay more for a license, but then this sort of stuff happens and everyone complains. Neither of our outdoor agencies get general tax money (not on the state budget) so it is up to use to fund them through the licenses we buy.
The Fish Comm has had several small license increases over the last few years, but they are still behind where they need to be for maintenance and operations.
The GC is in the same boat, but they haven't had a license increase since 1999.
Everyone wants more or at the minimum having what we have now. But without the proceeds to do the work, to make improvements or repairs to existing facilities, look for more of these things to happen.
I think there was another dam breached on GC property for about the same reason late last year. No money available to do the required repairs. The risk of failure, and the costs of claims and all other calamity from a dam failure make the draw downs and breaching good policy.
Not like this state doesn't understand a dam failure.
In the end, sportsmen need to step up to maintain and improve what they have. If that doesn't happen, look for more of the same coming more frequently. Nothing lasts forever, and dams are something that need done correctly from day one and then maintained with diligence once in place.
no one wants to pay more for a license, but then this sort of stuff happens and everyone complains. Neither of our outdoor agencies get general tax money (not on the state budget) so it is up to use to fund them through the licenses we buy.
The Fish Comm has had several small license increases over the last few years, but they are still behind where they need to be for maintenance and operations.
The GC is in the same boat, but they haven't had a license increase since 1999.
Everyone wants more or at the minimum having what we have now. But without the proceeds to do the work, to make improvements or repairs to existing facilities, look for more of these things to happen.
I think there was another dam breached on GC property for about the same reason late last year. No money available to do the required repairs. The risk of failure, and the costs of claims and all other calamity from a dam failure make the draw downs and breaching good policy.
Not like this state doesn't understand a dam failure.
In the end, sportsmen need to step up to maintain and improve what they have. If that doesn't happen, look for more of the same coming more frequently. Nothing lasts forever, and dams are something that need done correctly from day one and then maintained with diligence once in place.
I don't think any one would mind paying more for licenses if we felt that the money would be used to do constructive things that actually benefit wildlife, but just like the federal governments never ending thirst for more and more of my money thats wasted on unimaginable and meaningless projects, the PGC wish list is also never ending, why fix a dam when we can spend years studying woods rats?
Our priorities and theirs will never be the same.
Our priorities and theirs will never be the same.
This is true, however, government officials seem to take the money set aside for these projects and blows it. The perfect example was the trout stamp money. I was an employee at Big Spring Fish culture station when it closed. We needed $ to update our waste water treatment that exited the hatchery. Half of The trout stamp $ was to be earmarked and set aside for hatchery improvements. Whenever we needed it, it was gone. Nobody could give answers to where it was or who spent it. Supposedly it was spent elsewhere and thats why there was a license and trout stamp increase, to make up for the lack of $ thereof. Its all a bunch of B.S. Pay more and get less. All of our license increases, hunting or fishing, get voted in by our representatives in Harrisburg. Trust me when I say they want part of the $. If you think I'm full of it, I will quote the fish commission's legislative liason in the late 1990's. As the last part of fish culture school he took us on a tour of what he does in the capital. He said, " If you knew what happend inside these walls to get license increases and where those increases go, IT WOULD CURL YOUR TOES!"bawanajim said:I don't think any one would mind paying more for licenses if we felt that the money would be used to do constructive things that actually benefit wildlife, but just like the federal governments never ending thirst for more and more of my money thats wasted on unimaginable and meaningless projects, the PGC wish list is also never ending, why fix a dam when we can spend years studying woods rats?
Our priorities and theirs will never be the same.
1 - 8 of 8 Posts
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