The Department of Environmental Protection has issued the permit for Somerset Lake and now the Department of General Services will begin the bidding process.  The PA Fish and Boat Commission expects to begin construction this year and be completed in 2021.  I can’t wait to welcome back Somerset Lake!

Not sure, maybe I'm missing something here since I've been away fro PA. for so long. But, maybe I'm not sure what the "Update" in this post means? I thought the lake was drained, fished removed and restoration work underway and/or completed. Is this thread stating they have NOT EVEN started or have have a construction company bid yet? Is this turning into the Tamarack disaster?  I was actually expecting to be hearing news of Somerset being filled and open to fishing again soon. Anyone know of or have any "Links" to any official news articles on the lakes situation???

I mean it's true. I was in the local paper and I drive by the lake a couple times a week. Nothing has happened to the lake since they drained it, got the fish out, then filled it back up to where it was. 

Supposedly they have gotten their permits for the work and awaiting bids for the work.  I really doubt if the lake will be fishable for several more years.  Donegal was lowered a year before Somerset and as far as I know it's still being worked on.
 
 
I'm 72 years old and doubt if I will see it fishable again but who knows?

Be thankful if the permits have been approved and bids are being sought.

Also keep your fingers crossed that the bids get awarded to a contractor who is dependable and has adequate resources to get-r-done.

Tamarack in NW PA had such a contractor that replaced dams at both ends of the lake. A recent post by 'pachuckles' says that work is coming to an end.

Hang in there davef, I thought I would never again fish Tamarack again and I just turned 69 the 20th of March.

Good times and tight lines.

After I retired 1n 2006 I spent a lot of time in my boat on that lake.  It was probably about 2 miles from my house.  I could go fish a while and if I got bored I would just leave.  I'm sure it has affected a lot of people but there probably wasn't much the fish commission could do.



 
I have read about Tamarack lake on here and also in the Pa. Angler and it sure sounded like a great lake at one time.  Hopefully all these repaired lakes can return to what they once were.
 
 
 
 

BeenThereDoneThat.
Be thankful if the permits have been approved and bids are being sought.

Also keep your fingers crossed that the bids get awarded to a contractor who is dependable and has adequate resources to get-r-done.


Good times and tight lines.

I hear you on the dependable contractor.

davef
Supposedly they have gotten their permits for the work and awaiting bids for the work.  I really doubt if the lake will be fishable for several more years.  Donegal was lowered a year before Somerset and as far as I know it's still being worked on.
 
 
I'm 72 years old and doubt if I will see it fishable again but who knows?

I'm 67 and may get to fish it some day.  But who knows when.

Small lakes, BIG memories.

Never saw the lake itself but often wondered what it would be like, everytime I drove by and saw the Somerset Lake signs, on my way to and from Harrisburg.

I could never stop in my big truck while trailer trucking but now that I'm RV trucking..... who knows?

Good times and tight lines. 🍻

Long story; but I left Pgh when I joined the military after all the mills shut down and the entire metro area was laid off. The Pa Fish Commission was terrible then, outside the trout program. While in the military I fished NUMEROUS states. They all had better "fishing" programs than PA. Those states proved the fact PA programs were lacking.
 
 Now that I plan to retire back home (probably NW PA), researching the internet doesn't show any signs that the PA Fish Commission has improved. Even in the slightest bit.  Are they ever in the news being questioned? Are they protested against or challenged???
 
 I mean why drain a lake, remove the fish and then FILL IT BACK UP, before the construction work is started?
 
 Why drain the lake, remove the fish, THEN decide to bid a contract? Shouldn't the back hoe/earth movers bid be awarded, paid and them standing by to start work the minute the last fish was removed?
 
 I'm not understanding.....Why was the lake filled back up devoid of fish? Why was it filled back up without any work being done while it was down?
 
 I forget what state I was stationed at. But, they had a dam breach. They purchased property behind the dam, built a new dam first, behind the old one, lowered lake levels half way (fishing still allowed) then demolished the old breached dam. Walla, the Lake was filled up and back to normal.
 
 Is the PA fish commission planning on building fish habitat at Donegal, Tamarack or Somerset, while the waters out. Dredge out channels, add boulder/gravel mounds, create points, dropoffs & gravel flats, etc., etc.
 
Where's all the big fish programs other states have???  Catch a trophy walleye, bass, crappie, muskie etc. Call the fish commission; they come get the fish and use it for milking/breeding.  Fish commission gets it mounted for you for donating the fish to the program. You get a mount of your trophy, the fish commission gets a breeder with trophy bloodlines. You put together a 450 lb, 7 ft 3 in male with a 400 lb, 6 ft 7 in female, your gonna have some big (trophy) babies. Imagine the money that would pour into the state, into commission and the program if they filled the 3 rivers and the Susquehanna River with 50 inch Musky bloodline off spring??? 8 lb largemouth offspring in certain bassy waters, trophy walleye offspring in Erie and others big waters???. Monster Striper offspring in Raystown etc., etc., etc.......
 
Instead, they stock 600 fingerlings in a lake hoping 1 or 2 survive, instead of letting them reach a sustanable/survivable size.
 
SO I'm asking those of you living in PA right now, is there anything that can be done? Are they getting complaints at their public meetings? Or are they so politically protected (corupt) that they're untouchable? Or am I just wrong and they are doing a better job than it appears?