Lower body of Twin Lakes drained to fix retaining wall, to be refilled by trout season

Water in the lower lake at Twin Lakes Park will remain low for most of the winter as crews repair a retaining wall and restore walkways that wind around the lake, officials said.

The water level was dropped by about 6 feet when the project began in late November, allowing crews to rehab the retaining wall that “was failing in a lot of locations,” said Westmoreland County Bureau of Parks and Recreation director Brandon Simpson.

According to project documents, crews from Somerset County-based Sanner Concrete and Masonry are removing portions of the sidewalks and the top layer of rocks from parts of the retaining wall to install 4-inch trough drains. Crews then will place rock and materials that aid with soil stability for the retaining wall before installing cement sidewalks.

“This is a once every 30, 40 years type project,” Simpson said. “We’re actually hoping that this one will last longer because we left the current retaining wall there; we’ve just used large rock to reinforce it and hold it up. The engineer that gave us the design told us that it should be maintenance-free for a long time.”

The retaining wall has not been renovated since it was first installed, Simpson said.

Before draining the lake for the project, crews had to receive permission from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the state’s Fish and Boat Commission. At the time, officials used a master valve to drain the lake, which releases at the lower part of the dam by the bridge.

According to Simpson, the project should be complete in early February. However, water in the lake will remain lowered until the beginning of March in hopes a freeze will kill off weeds that grow in the bottom, impacting anglers and boaters in the spring and summer. Simpson ensured it will be up to normal levels by the start of trout season.

The total project will cost about $400,000.

Simpson noted a similar project in the lower lake could take place in the next five to 10 years to repair a retaining wall near the area of the gazebo and island stage.

The upper lake does not have a retaining wall.

Another project is underway at the park, Simpson said, adding crews are rebuilding the paddle boat dock with composite lumber.

“We’re doing a lot of work at Twin Lakes, that’s for sure,” Simpson said.