Those wishing to fish in the lake at Lackawanna State Park will have to do so soon as the lake’s water level will drop during a dam-rehabilitation project.
The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will draw down the 198-acre Lackawanna Lake on Tuesday, officials announced last week in a news release.
The department plans to repair and replace deteriorated concrete components, install a new fiberglass access bridge, upgrade the control tower, improve the spillway and complete other infrastructure updates on the 69‑foot-high, 350‑foot‑long Lackawanna Dam, located on the South Branch of the Tunkhannock Creek.
The project is expected to take around four months and be completed by the end of January.
The dam impounds 2,400 acre‑feet of water, creating the the lake, according to officials. It is classified as a “high hazard” structure, meaning failure could impact nearby properties and lives, but they said the designation does not mean that the dam is currently at risk of failing.
Lowering the lake, officials said, will allow crews to safely access these areas, address sediment issues and improve shoreline stability.
The project will impact fishing and trout stocking. Park officials and the state Fish and Boat Commission lifted all fishing regulations related to seasons, sizes and creel limits at the lake, and encourage anglers to make good use of as many fish as they can while fishing access is sufficient. While shoreline fishing access will not be restricted during the early stages of the drawdown, they said conditions will continue to be assessed as necessary to ensure angler safety.
The Lackawanna State Park Dam flows into Tunkhannock Creek in Lackawanna State Park in North Abington Twp. Thursday, September 3, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
The Lackawanna State Park Dam flows into Tunkhannock Creek in Lackawanna State Park in North Abington Twp. Thursday, September 3, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Show Caption
1 of 2
The Lackawanna State Park Dam flows into Tunkhannock Creek in Lackawanna State Park in North Abington Twp. Thursday, September 3, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
In addition, fall trout stocking at the lake has been canceled. Those seeking to fish stocked trout can find alternative locations where the fish are stocked at fbweb.pa.gov/TroutStocking.
The project is the latest the department is undertaking at the park in Benton and North Abington townships. Park officials also plan to close the campground this week to renovate its shower and restroom facilities.
The renovations, expected to be completed in early 2028, involve replacing the facilities with new, modern and accessible amenities. The same work also is taking place at Ricketts Glen State Park, located in Luzerne, Columbia and Sullivan counties.
The upgrades will consist of demolition of all existing shower house and restroom facilities, construction of new shower houses and comfort stations, new family-assist restrooms and Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible restrooms at every facility, ADA parking areas, and new paving and accessible paths from campsites to the restrooms.
Visitors can still access the park during the dam project and all park trails, parking areas and surrounding recreation facilities will remain open. The department is working with boat owners who moor at Lackawanna Lake to ensure they have the information and guidance needed during the drawdown.
The dam was created when the lake was built in 1972, the same year the park opened to the public.