NORTH ABINGTON TWP., PA — Firefighters spent over an hour Sunday working to free a woman after she became stuck waist-deep in the exposed muddy bed of the drained lake at Lackawanna State Park.
Emergency crews from volunteer fire departments across the area were dispatched to the park in North Abington Township after the woman sank deep into the silt while walking on the exposed lakebed. Rescue personnel worked for approximately an hour to extricate her from the thick mud. First responders confirmed the woman was unharmed following the incident.
State park officials initiated a drawdown of the 198-acre lake early last month to perform significant rehabilitation work on the park's dam. The ongoing infrastructure project includes upgrading the control tower, improving the spillway, replacing deteriorated concrete, and installing a new fiberglass access bridge.
The lake drawdown has exposed submerged roadways, historic structures, and heavy mud flats that pose hazardous quicksand-like conditions for visitors. Park officials urge visitors to remain on designated trails and avoid walking on the exposed lakebed. Repair work on the dam is expected to be completed by January 2027.
State Park & Safety Information
- Park Advisories & Dam Project Details: Read full details on the lake drawdown and dam rehabilitation project through the PA DCNR Newsroom.
