HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A gradual drawdown of the 26-acre lake at the Gunter Valley Reservoir in Franklin County is underway, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources said today.

Built in the early 1960s, the dam across Trout Run creating the reservoir has experienced concrete cracking and seepage.

The drawdown enables DCNR officials to address structural concerns raised as a result of a recent joint inspection with the Department of Environmental Protection.

"Monitoring has shown an increasing amount of leakage from the dam, and in consultation with DEP, we felt that a drawdown of the water was the best thing to do for safety reasons," acting DCNR Secretary John Quigley said.

To help salvage fish in the lake, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is temporarily suspending all seasons, sizes and creel limits at the reservoir until further notice but not after April 8, 2010.

"We're taking this action in preparation for a fish salvage to be conducted some time in the spring in conjunction with the complete draining of the lake," said Dr. Douglas Austen, PFBC executive director. "Enhancing opportunities for anglers to harvest fish prior to salvage efforts provides both additional recreational opportunities and can help reduce the number of fish that will either be captured and transported or potentially stranded when the water level drops."

The reservoir and surrounding 3,000 acres was purchased by DCNR from the Shippensburg Borough Authority and added to the Tuscarora State Forest in 2003.

For more information about our state forests, visit the DCNR Web site at www.dcnr.state.pa.us or call 717-772-9101.

Media contacts:

Christina Novak, DCNR, 717-772-9101

Eric Levis, PA Fish & Boat Commission, 717 705-7806

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources