CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Amid a great deal of pushback over plans to drain Swan Lake at Dunbar Cave, Tennessee State Parks held a public meeting recently to collect more public input and to lay out some of the benefits of returning the lake basin “to the stasis and balance that it so badly wants.”
According to previous reports, the proposal to drain the lake is part of a 10-year Comprehensive Strategic Plan that guides operations for all 59 state parks. The parks are expected to develop specific management proposals and then invite the public for input, which was the reason for the Dec. 17 meeting.
Proposed cost-effective, comprehensive plan
Going into the meeting, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation shared these objectives for the park as a whole:
- Establish a creek channel designed to encourage visitors to enjoy creek-side access.
- Add protections for Native American cave art dating back to the 14th century.
- Make Dunbar Cave State Park more ADA-accessible.
- Add new recreational features to the park.
- Stabilize the landscape, responsibly manage water resources at the park.
Dunbar Cave State Park Manager David Britton discussed highlights of the park action plan, including improving their stewardship through more off-site educational programming, developing internship programs with Austin Peay State University and MTSU, further developing Friends of Dunbar Cave and enhancing volunteer opportunities.
To improve programming, the park looks to add educational and interpretive staff, add interpretive space, and expand the cave tour season. They want to create an ADA-compliant experience for disabled visitors through improvements to parking, restrooms, trailheads and access to the cave and artwork.
History of Swan Lake at Dunbar Cave
Britton reviewed the history of Swan Lake at Dunbar Cave, an artificial lake that has been plagued with problems from the start.
In 1926, Dunbar Cave owners created a 5-acre lake for recreation. Seven years later, Idaho Springs bought the property, repaired the failing dam and created a 12-acre lake. It was sold to the state in 1973, and in 1988, the state made extensive repairs. Between 2017 and 2020, the state spent close to $600,000 on repairs. In 2023, the lake drained due to the collapse of the spillway outlet.
Creek restoration benefits
The Dunbar Cave State Park Strategic Management Plan, it included reports, history and ideas for the overall development of the park. The report determined Swan Lake’s condition was poor, and that it is “not sustainable and poses a multitude of management and operational issues.” The costs to address those stems from the construction of the lake, which it says wasn’t “engineered to any known standard,” according to previous reports.
Britton said returning Swan Lake to its natural state would remove the risk of flash flooding, which threatens the cultural resources within the cave. He said it would align with the state park’s mission and establish an opportunity for additional features, such as a new half-mile, paved wheelchair loop trail; a bridge over the creek to connect to the existing trail; and a series of panels that tell historical or natural stories about the landscape along the creek.
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Britton noted that returning Swan Lake to its natural state would not harm the wildlife in the area or the ecosystem. On the contrary, “This would return the ecosystem to the stasis and balance that it so badly wants. It would bring more wildlife,” he said.
Community leaders against draining lake
A number of those in attendance, including elected officials, spoke in favor of keeping Swan Lake as it is.
Mayor Joe Pitts said the City of Clarksville does not want Swan Lake to go away. “We prefer the lake to remain; it seems wrong for it to become a parking lot and stream versus a beautiful lake that really defines the park.” Pitts told Clarksville Now he’s grateful to Tennessee State Parks for allowing the community to have input, and he looks forward to continuing talks and finding a solution that will address all concerns.
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County Mayor Wes Golden said with the lake being built nearly 100 years ago, it has become a part of Montgomery County’s history. “There’s not a person in this room that remembers a time when that lake wasn’t there,” Golden said. “We’ve grown to love it; it’s become a staple here in our community, and bodies of water draw people.” Golden said he would have concerns with removal of the lake, including the effect it would have on tourism revenue.
State Sen. Bill Powers said he doesn’t understand why the state can’t fix Swan Lake. “I honestly think it’s worth another attempt, another effort to try and get it back on track. … We’re not asking for an inordinate amount of money; we just want our history restored, and we want this land back to its glory days.”
Next steps
The next steps are to review public comments and possibly make changes. Comments will also be accepted through Feb. 7, in an online survey or via email.
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