History of Canonsburg Lake

 In 1998, the ducks and geese began walking on the Lake and the inquiry began on how to save the Lake. Concerned residents worked together to circulate a petition to restore the Lake to its original contours. With over 3,000 signatures, a trip to the State Capitol was underway to present the petition to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) along with pictures of the Lake’s current condition, letters of support from both townships, the county commissioners, our state senator and representatives and testimonials from fishermen, boaters, birders, as well as other residents who valued the Lake and who like you, feared that without intervention, the Lake would continue to decline and the surrounding community and the entire SW PA would lose a valuable regional asset. 

The Save Canonsburg Lake committee was formed as the Canonsburg Lake Restoration & Improvement Committee  (CLRIC) with interested parties and representatives from Peters, N. Strabane, the WCC District, the Chartiers Creek Watershed, PFBC, and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).  Our first task to develop a master site plan with a $40,000 grant from DCNR.

In 2007, courtesy of a Growing Greener Funds grant from DCNR, we completed a major site plan detailing intended improvements to the Lake including walking trails, picnic areas, 2nd boat launch, restrooms, improved lighting and parking, and a Wetlands Interpretation Center to be realized once the Lake is “Saved.”  

We purchased benches, installed a pedestrian bridge with the efforts of an Eagle Scout, installed informational kiosks at both ends of the lake, and created a perennial flower garden with the efforts of the Girl Scouts. 

In 2012, Canonsburg Lake Dam was stabilized and brought up to code at a cost of approximately $3 million as a result of maintained pressure by the public on local representatives.  Once the Dam was stabilized, attention shifted to additional improvements necessary for the Lake.  

It was taken off the DEPs list of high hazard dams through the maintained pressure of the Lake committee and the public on local and State representatives.

In 2014, the townships and our county commissioners supported efforts to identify a company to construct a weir  to catch upstream sediment and debris. This is an essential next step before any dredging can begin.  The scope of the work involved creating an access road on the North Strabane side of the Lake for the PFBC and the contractor to mobilize equipment they would need. Bids were solicited and the firm to complete the work was selected.  The work was completed in 2016 at a cost of $2 million. Unfortunately funds appropriated for the work were inadequate to allow for any dredging.

The weir and access road projects were completed. The access road now opened up a new area for the public to walk to the lake for recreational opportunities, and a place for kayakers to stop for R and R. 

The CLRIA formed as the Canonsburg Lake Restoration and Improvement Association, non-profit 501(c)3. 

We are continuing our efforts to raise awareness and funding to dredge portions of the lake to improve aquatic habitat and increase recreational opportunities for the public. 

Do you have special memories from times spent at Canonsburg Lake? We'd love to hear from you. Maintaining a history of our beautiful lake is important to us. Please send us your stories.