EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was originally published at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website on Dec. 4.
SHREVE – Repairs to the dam spillway structure and drain conduits on Shreve Lake Wildlife Area in Wayne County are in progress, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
To ensure public safety and to allow crews to work efficiently, some closures to Critchfield Road (Township Road 138) and to the Brown Road (Township Road 316) parking lot are expected. Water levels are currently low for renovations, which limits fishing opportunities.
The 58-acre lake’s water level was lowered when sinkholes formed in the earthen dam, raising safety concerns.
Design work and planning to repair the dam and maintain recreation on the lake have been ongoing since the problems arose. Construction is expected to conclude by the fall of 2024.
Shreve Lake Wildlife Area was purchased by the state beginning in 1958.
A natural marsh was enlarged by the construction of an earthen fill dam and the diversion of a small stream from the north into the lake.
The dam was completed in 1961 and the lake was filled in 1962.
The area includes a diverse mix of crop fields, shrubby coverts, grasslands, and woodland habitat that has provided generations of outdoor enthusiasts with quality hunting, fishing, and birding opportunities.
Division of Wildlife
The mission of the Division of Wildlife is to conserve and improve fish and wildlife resources and their habitats for sustainable use and appreciation by all.
Visit wildohio.gov to find out more.
ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all.
Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.