State Wildlife Officer Austin Levering told the
Mount Vernon News that he’s been to the lake regularly over the past three weeks and has seen a lot more boating traffic. Kayaks, paddleboards and bass boats are seen out on the lake, which has a limited horsepower rating with no-wake, idle speed required.
Things are coming back to life out on the 469-acre lake, he said, including cars in the parking lot and many people out fishing along the bank at night.
“The dam was 60 years old. So it definitely posed a risk to public safety,” he said.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) made repairing high-risk dams throughout the state a priority, with several being completed.