I have been fishing for over 40 years and this is the first time I came across this problem locally.
In Sept. our area got hit with 15 - 18 inches of rain in a couple of days.
A local lake ( Speed Well Forge Lake ) about 106 acres w{1}**** hard from this.
The spillway was damaged beyond repair for the PA FISH AND BOAT COMM.  6.43 mill. 5 years ago it would have been about 2.8 mill.
This lake was created about 43 years ago and not just for fishing.
People used it to for kayaking ,sailing and swim competitions.
All the wild life around the lake are also going to misplaced.
This is the first place I personally witnessed a American Bald Eagle swoop down and get a fish . There are also Ospreys,Blue Herons. This lake used to have Large mouth bass,Crappies,Sunfish,Channel Cats and Carp. The PFBC has already shocked the lake and placed the fish in other areas.
The locals are trying very hard to get our local Congressmen notified to help save the lake.
Please give your support by trying to contact our local offices. GOOGLE Speed well forge lake to see old and new photos and more info.

I know of a lake that was created at about that time in western Pa. Where is this lake your talking about?

The lake is located in Lancaster County.

That is a shame. I know what it is like to lose one of your favorite fishing holes. A lake 10 miles from me has gotten so polluted overthe last years that there are times the EPA has issued warning to not even touch the water. There is some effort to try and salvage this 13,000 acre lake but it will take years.

i was at speedwell forge lake almost every day when they were taking the fish out. it was pretty impressive. the first load of largemouth bass was about 350 and they said close to half were 5-6 pounders. if you remember years ago there was a problem where the water went down low and there wer alot of dead fish on the shoreline. they did an impressive job moving all those fish. im sure in the future this lake will be back again.

This is not the first lake I've heard of being drained and closed in Pennsylvania! What gives?