Lake Williams dam project nearly finished, now refilling for future boating and fishing

It took about a year to build a dam at Lake Williams in the early 1900s.

It took about nine months to complete its rehabilitation, which started last fall.

York Water Company officials stood on the dam along Water Street early Wednesday morning to mark the completion of the first phase of the project. Jeffrey Hines, president and CEO of the company, who is set to retire next year, turned the wheel of a valve that allows water to flow through for the inaugural event.

"This is a nice upgrade for our 100-plus-year-old dam," he said. "We're hopeful that the work we're doing here will last another hundred years." 

Crews with Kinsley Construction poured concrete to finish the project on the hot summer morning. The lake, which is full of growing vegetation, had been drained and now will be allowed to refill.

The popular recreation spot — part of York Water's reservoir system — was off limits to fishing and boating during the project, and Water Street, which runs through the lake's park, has been closed.

It was only supposed to take about three months to put the new valves on the upstream side of the dam, which straddles York and Springfield townships, but rainy weather delayed the project for months.

November was the wettest on record for the company, said JT Hand, chief operating officer with the water company. That's the month the project was expected to be finished.

More work will be done on the dam, but it does not require the dry conditions, Hand said. The additional work includes replacement of the concrete spillway, for example.

No decision has been made when Water Street will be reopened, Hand said. The water company needs to check with the state Department of Transportation and the state Department of Environmental Protection.

The ongoing work at the dam will impact traffic.  

How long will it take to refill?

It's up to Mother Nature to determine how quickly Lake Williams will refill.

If 8 inches of rain were to fall over a short period, then the lake would be full.

Lake Redman, which feeds Lake Williams, is down 3 feet currently, Hand said. That lake will fill first.

When Redman is full, the water will spill from there into Lake Williams and fill it back up.

The water company has a "wonderful relationship" with the York County Parks, which will determine when it's safe for recreational activities on the lake, Hand said.

The parks department will let the public know when the recreational activities can resume.

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Plans to restock lake with fish 

When Williams was drained, the water company relocated 5,500 fish to Lake Redman, Hand said. Fishing in Redman has been phenomenal this year.

Lake Williams is devoid of fish, and the company is working with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission on a plan to restock the lake.

Summer, for example, is not a good time, Hand said. The water is too warm and will stress the fish.

Spring or fall tend to be better, he said. It also will depend on the water level in the lake.

Historic day for York Water Company

Hand shared photos of the dam under construction in 1911. The dam was placed in service in 1912.

One showed an employee wearing a tie and a straw hat standing by a water pipe. That pipe is still in use, Hand said.

Others highlighted the topography of the area. Hand pointed out the different features, including a cut for what is now Water Street and a flattened path used by workers more than 100 years ago. 

"Is that just totally cool or what?" he said.