Crescent Lake becomes Crescent Pond, for a little while

DINGMAN — Crescent Lake homeowners were facing a problem two years ago. A 24-inch concrete pipe which is 30 feet down and 80 feet long carries overflow water through their dam and out of the lake. This pipe had to be extended with an additional 80 feet of 24-inch galvanized pipe some years ago when a road was built along side the lake. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection told the homeowners association in the 70 home subdivision that the galvanized section was beginning to fail and had to be replaced. The concrete pipe on the lake side was inspected by underwater divers to determine that it was in good condition. Crescent Lake, created back in the 1960’s by the original developer, is 13 acres in size with a depth of from 40 to 45 feet. The lake itself is fed by Dwarf Kill Creek as well as by Gold Key Lake which crosses under Log Tavern Road and then flows into the Dwarf Kill towards Crescent Lake. DEP wanted the lake level dropped 15 feet to relieve the water pressure while the repair is being made which is the reason the lake water is way down. “Fortunately for our community association, we had left over money from another project which we used to partially fund this $29,000 dollar repair,” said Donald Staab, dam chairman. “We have to excavate down to the galvanized pipe and are replacing it with the same size plastic pipe and this will fix the problem permanently,” Staab reported to the Courier. They had started the project this past fall and the lake had been lowered by nine feet. Then came those days of torrential rain which filled it right back up so they decided to wait till spring. Association President Pat Staab remarked, “The biggest concern of our homeowners was whether they would lose use of the lake for the season.” She added, “The repair is expected to take only five days and our community will not lose a summer of swimming and boating.” Crescent Lake will once again be the centerpiece of the community when the repair is completed and the lake fills right back up, to the relief of homeowners.