Lake Somerset is 253-acre lake that is over 60 years old. A leak in the base of the dam forced a six foot draw down in the level of the lake to reduce pressure on the dam for safety concerns. In the fall of 2017, it was drained completely down with a lot of the fish being captured and relocated to other lakes. Delays with permitting and funding kept the start of the 8-million-dollar project rebuilding of the spill way, improvements to the dam and the lake itself, until the spring of 2020. It looks like it should be close to being completed by the end of this year, 2021.
The county entered into a lease agreement with the PA Fish and Boat commission in 2015 to lease the ground surrounding the lake for the making of a county nature park. The newly built trail you see here is the first ½ mile segment of a trail that will eventually be a complete 5-mile loop around the entire lake as moneys become available for construction. This only took place due to the efforts of several different officials, groups, organizations, and dedicated individuals. One of these groups is the Somerset Lake Action Committee that is part of the Somerset County Conservancy.
This cache is a short walk from the parking area in the opposite direction from the new trail segment. It will involve a short easy bushwhack from the mowed area. The cache is starting out with a TI travel bug and a FTF prize.
Congrats to hshepley on the FTF!
Honorable mention to dirtytrails for 2nd to find a few minutes behind!