Lee Erwin Reporting
lerwin@clarksvillenow.com
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Swan Lake at Dunbar Cave State Natural Area is now mostly just a whole lot of large pools of water and lots of mud. The lake was lowered a couple of months ago because of a leak in the spillway dam and with rains and water flowing into the lake it began to fill up once again.
Jeff Vaughn, manager of nearby Swan Lake Golf Course talked about the low water level. “They’ve drained this lake for precautions against the spillway that’s leaking. That’s about all I know because this is a state situation,” Vaughn said. Tuesday morning, the fins of some of the large fish could be seen as they moved around in the larger pools of water and Wednesday some of the fish were found dead along the edge of the lake.
Swan Lake is in the Dunbar Cave State Natural Area and part of the Tennessee State Parks system. Water from the lake has been used in the past to irrigate Swan lake Golf Course. In an email Tuesday, Eric Ward, Deputy Communications Director for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, commented on what was going on at Swan Lake.
Ward said the dam at Swan Lake is currently in need of repairs. In order to prevent further damage to the dam, Swan Lake is being maintained at two feet below normal levels to alleviate pressure. Tennessee State Parks has requested the capital funding needed for the repairs, and will find out in early spring whether or not the funds will be approved. In the meantime, the lake level will be continually monitored and adjusted as needed.