HARRISBURG, Pa. (June 1) – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) and the Save Colyer Lake community organization announced today that a public event will be held at Colyer Lake in Centre County on June 12 to commemorate the reopening of the lake.
The event will take place at 1 p.m. at the North access area. Speakers will include Save Colyer Lake President Tom Kistler and PFBC Executive Director John Arway. Other public officials invited to attend the event include Sen. Jake Corman, Reps. Kerry Benninghoff and Mike Hanna, county commissioners and local township representatives.
Following the welcoming remarks, local outdoor groups will officially reopen the lake by paddling kayaks and canoes for the first time since the lake was drained in late 2014.
“We’re thrilled to be able to reopen this lake for the outdoor enthusiasts in Centre County,” said PFBC Executive Director Arway. “We recognize the value lakes bring to area communities in terms of tourism and quality of life. It takes a unified effort to complete a project like this and we couldn’t have done it without the help of the Save Colyer Lake group and the assistance provided by the local legislators.”
“Our dream is coming true,” added Mr. Kistler. “The entire community will now have this wonderful resource to use and appreciate for years into the future.”
While the lake is currently open for canoeing and kayaking, fishing opportunities will be limited as the fishery is reestablished, a process that typically takes 3-5 years. During this time, fishing at Colyer Lake will continue to be managed under catch and release regulations.
The northern access is open for parking. The southern access is expected to be open in time for the event.
The PFBC drained the lake in late 2014 after determining that the dam was unsafe and needed to be rebuilt. The 77-acre reservoir is located in Potter Township, Centre County. It is owned by the Commonwealth and managed by the PFBC.
Media Contact:
Eric Levis, Press Secretary
717.705.7806 or elevis@pa.gov