ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Ala. — The Pinedale Shores community in St. Clair County is grappling with an ecological disaster after their lake drained, leaving behind a wasteland of dead fish and crumbling structures. The lake, once a vibrant escape, is now nearly dry, reduced to a cracked, muddy mess.
Jay Gibbs, president of the Pinedale Shores Property Owners Association, said, “Devastating. The community is surrounded by the ecosystem: the fish, birds, wildlife. It’s definitely got a lot of commotion and attention.”
The community, home to around 700 residents near Ashville, first noticed a steady drop in water levels in June. Upon investigation, Gibbs said they discovered that the pipe and valve controlling the lake’s water level, which feeds into nearby Canoe Creek, were broken. The valve dates back to 1957 and was last patched in the early 1980s.
“It was a big shocker,” Gibbs said. “It was a big up and down. Can we patch it? Unfortunately, it’s too far gone to patch it. It’s time to replace.”
The cost of replacing the valve, excluding labor, is estimated at $25,000. As a private lake, the St. Clair County government can offer little assistance beyond pledging to repair the road after the lake repairs are completed.
“It takes an eye opener,” Gibbs said. “If we want something belongs to us, we gotta take care of it.”
Recent rains have helped replenish the lake slightly, but the smell of death still lingers. Loyd DeFreese, a resident of 34 years, noted, “Every vulture in St. Clair County has been out here over the past week or so. It’s greatly improved. The heavy rain filled the lake back up a little bit.”
DeFreese emphasized the community’s need for support, saying, “We’re a private community. Most of the folks out here are not wealthy people. We are just regular country folks who enjoy our little piece of paradise out here.”
In addition to the valve repair, the community faces a list of other necessary fixes. DeFreese expressed concern about their fate mirroring that of Springville Lake Estates, where a dam collapse led to a permanent loss.
Community leaders remain hopeful that with good planning, community support, and external assistance, recovery is possible. “What’s going through my mind is a brighter future of finally a clean up, finally a fix, things being repaired, things looking up. Next year this lake is going to be prettier than it’s been in 20-30 years,” Gibbs said, stressing the importance of strong HOA dues and community involvement in handling repairs.
St. Clair County Commission Chairman Stan Batemon says the issue will be discussed Thursday, April 7, in Ashville at 1pm. The commission is looking at how to legally partner with the HOA to make repairs. “I look forward to continuing to work until the lake is restored,” said Batemon in a Facebook post.