Park Lake will open in the coming weeks, just as it has in previous years. And the only thing standing between recreators and the beloved fishing, swimming access is snow melt and several safety precautions set in place while work to repair the dam continues.
“Last fall, we breached the dam to relieve the pressure and stress on the dam, and to avoid any structure failures that could have led to flooding and impacts to residents downstream,” Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest Public Affairs Officer Chiara Cipriano said. “Since the imminent danger of a dam failure has been addressed by breaching the dam, we now have time to find funding and make a plan to repair or replace the dam.”
Cipriano said the Forest Service hopes to have a plan for repairs finalized this year, with work scheduled to begin by next year.
Jefferson County Disaster and Emergency Medical Services Coordinator and Fire Warden Doug Dodge told Jefferson County officials during a Local Emergency Planning Committee on April 20 that the lake’s population of arctic grayling increases the priority of the repairs.
While Park Lake attracts many visitors throughout the year for recreational purposes, the lake also serves as an arctic grayling fish hatchery which Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks uses to restore the species’ population throughout the state.
Dodge also emphasized that repairing the dam at Park Lake will be an expensive project.
In the meantime, the Park Lake campground, picnic area, lake and the road leading to it, will open to the public by Memorial Day. To protect visitors from ongoing dam repairs, such as sectioned off areas.
“People will still be able to kayak, paddleboard, fish, etc. in the lake – the water level dropped by only a couple feet or so, so still plenty of water for folks to enjoy,” Cipriano said.
