New problems arise at Somerset Lake
Spillway problems at the Somerset Lake dam in Somerset Township are raising concerns about repair work underway at High Point Lake dam 20 miles away in Elk Lick and Addison townships. Both of the recreational lakes in southern Somerset County are maintained by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, which earlier this month identified new…
Spillway problems at the Somerset Lake dam in Somerset Township are raising concerns about repair work underway at High Point Lake dam 20 miles away in Elk Lick and Addison townships.
Both of the recreational lakes in southern Somerset County are maintained by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, which earlier this month identified new leaks at the 253-acre Somerset Lake in recently repaired cracks on the lake’s concrete spillway. A preliminary inspection of the leakage did not reveal any structural damage or threat to public safety, according to the commission, which is continuing to monitor the problem and plan repairs.
But R. Timothy McCrum, an attorney representing the Friends of High Point Lake, said the concrete labyrinthine-style spillway at Somerset Lake is the same design planned for High Point Lake. The commission drained High Point Lake in August to repair leaks in the earthen dam, which is expected to take two to three years.
“The drainage of the lake was unwarranted,” said Mr. McCrum, who has been critical of commission decisions in the past. “We’re asking for a reconsideration of the design.”
The state has budgeted $5.6 million for spillway repairs. An independent engineer retained by the High Point Lake group challenged the state’s assessment of the dam and outlined lower cost alternatives, Mr. McCrum said.
Somerset Lake was refilled in 2022 following a multi-year dam rehabilitation project. Surface cracks first appeared on the exterior of the new labyrinth-style spillway.
The lake was drawn down by 18 inches in September 2024, followed by an additional drawdown of about 18 inches in February 2025. Starting in October 2025, repairs were made to the spillway, which included patching the interior of the structure with concrete.
The lake began refilling late last year and in early 2026, but new leaks were discovered in early March as water levels approached the crest of the spillway, the commission said.
The discovery drew a rebuke from Senators Pat Stefano and Carl Walker Metzgar, Republicans from Connellsville and Berlin respectively.
“This situation reinforces, in the strongest possible terms, the need for clear communication, accountability and transparency throughout every stage of publicly funded work,” they wrote in a joint statement March 13. “Our constituents deserve confidence that restoration projects at our lakes are handled with the utmost care and accuracy for the best interest in their safety. Those basic expectations were clearly not met here.”
Labyrinthine spillways, which have been popular since the 1960s, can discharge a larger volume of water for the same width compared to a linear spillway, but the zig-zag or folded crest design of labyrinthines are more likely to trap debris.
Lake Somerset was developed as a state recreational reservoir in 1956 and it has since become a destination for boating and fishing. The 253-acre lake, considered a warm water fishery, is home to muskellunge, walleye and bass.