Kearsley Lake Drained For The First Time In Years

I went to Kearsley Lake Golf Course this week with my kids and was shocked to see that the lake was pretty much empty.

Yesterday was one of the few warm days we've had recently and the entire golf world was looking to get out and play. My kids and I were looking for somewhere to play a few holes, and a friend recommended Kearsley Lake. We had a great time, and the course was in great shape except for one very noticeable thing missing. There was practically NO WATER in Kearsley Lake!

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Since I had never been to the course, or the lake actually, I figured it must have been something that happened a while ago. I mean, if an entire lake were to drain I feel like we would have heard something about it on the news.

This morning I decided to do a little research into what was going on at the lake and it turns out that the lake was drained intentionally. Melissa Withy is a friend that lives on Kearsley Lake, and she let me know that the lake was drained so residents could do cleanup, and sea wall restoration.

I feel dumb here, but I had no idea that Kearsley Lake was a manmade lake that could even be drained!

It turns out that the lake is not intentionally drained very often. Some lake residents told me that its been nearly 10 years since the lake was intentionally drained.

Most residents are very happy about the draining though because it gives them a chance to work on their docks, and sea walls without having to be in the water. It also helps to clean up any junk that may have been dropped in the lake over the years.

As a golfer, it could also be an opportunity to stock up on balls that people have deposited into the lake over the years!

If you notice above, I keep using the word intentionally when talking about draining the lake. It turns out that the lake was drained in 2017, but it might not have been intentional.

I don't have confirmation of this, but the Youtube video below shows a nearly empty Kearsley Lake from 2017. The description says that sluice got stuck in the open position, and the lake drained in a matter of hours.

I think the biggest questions I have now have to do with refilling the lake.

If it can drain in a matter of hours, how long does it take to fill?

Where does all the water go to when it drains, or come from when it's time to refill it?

Is there ever a risk of the lake not refilling properly?

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE FISH!?!?!

Feel free to enlighten me by answering any of the questions above.