Canoe Creek State Park Improvements Require Partial Lake Drainage

Harrisburg, PA /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Canoe Creek State Park in Blair County's lake is being partially drained to ease construction activities around a park improvement project, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Richard Allan announced today.

"When our park's beach area reopens next spring, visitors will find new easily accessible ramps and sidewalks leading to the lake that provide safe, enjoyable swimming to those with special needs," said Allan. "Anglers, meanwhile, should be delighted to learn that there will also be a variety of fish habitat improvement and shoreline restoration and access projects at Canoe Lake."

Planned construction requires the lake to be lowered five feet. The partial drainage, which began Monday, will remain in effect until construction is completed in mid-March 2013. The 155-acre lake will remain open to both fishing and boating, but boat launches will be closed. The activities will not impact any other park services.

The improvement project will stabilize once-eroding shorelines and trails and improve parking areas, all of which will provide easier access to lake fishing.

The park's swimming beach area is targeted for fence installation that will deter Canada geese and prevent their droppings in grassy areas, eliminating public health and costly cleanup issues.

Additional work will include the installation of a water line across the lake to provide service to a restroom and pavilion on its eastern side, and rehabilitation of abutments supporting Mary Ann's Creek Bridge, a foot bridge providing access to park parking, hunting areas and historic kilns.

Canoe Creek State Park features 958 acres of wetlands, old fields and mature forests, all providing critical habitat for migrating birds. Canoe Lake is popular for fishing year-round, hiking, picnicking, swimming and environmental educational programs.

For more information on Canoe Creek and Pennsylvania's other 119 state parks, call 1-888-PA-PARKS or visit www.dcnr.state.pa.us (Select "Find a Park").