Somerset Lake has been a retreat for boaters, fishers and nature-lovers for 60 years.

“We’ve been bird watching and fishing here for years, so we knew what a resource it was,” said Jim Moses, the president of the Somerset County Conservancy.

That resource that will now be saved.

Damage to the dam was originally discovered five years ago. Starting next week, the lake will be drained in order to rebuild the dam and spillway.

 “The pressure on the lake would eventually collapse the dam and there would be a catastrophic failure. And of course, what’s in front of the dam is the town of Somerset,” said Lenny Lichvar, the commissioner for PA Fish & Boat Commission District 4. 

Members of Somerset County Conservancy said they realized if they didn’t take action soon, they could lose the lake forever.

“Obviously, we’re going to have to lose it for a couple years in order to save it,” Lichvar said.

The Somerset Lake Action Committee rallied support from the community to raise $100,000. That support helped secure $7 million in state funding for the project. 

After the lake is drained, construction on the dam will begin in early 2018 and should be completed in 2020. During construction, the committee plans to upgrade Somerset Lake Nature Park.

“We’ll have a picnic pavilion, picnic tables, improve the parking lot and the launch area within the next year. The whole idea of bringing this lake back and having this park is going to be a great thing for our area,” said Jeff Payne, Somerset Lake Action Committee Chairman.

In order to give residents one last opportunity to enjoy the lake, the committee is hosting its annual LakeFest on Saturday, August 12 with food, music, boating and fishing.

A day of fun by the water to celebrate the efforts to save the lake and raise money to improve the park.

“The main purpose is community awareness. Come out see the lake and see it for the last time with water. It’s going to be going down,” said Moses.

LakeFest is free to attend. It runs from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 12.

The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission is holding a public meeting on Thursday, August 17 at 6 p.m. to inform residents about the process of the lake draining and the dam renovation.

The meeting will be held in the Daily American’s Press Room, located at 334 W. Main St., Somerset.