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The latest news of the Rose Valley Lake drawdown — when it will occur, what it will involve — drew a rapt and large audience of anglers and others during a special meeting of the issue at the Eldred Township Vol. Fire Hall.

Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission officials could give no firm date for the project’s start date, although a tentative schedule calls for dam rehabilitation work to begin in Autumn 2027 with a completion date in Summer 2029.

Fish & Boat Commission Executive Director Tim Schaeffer said the project still awaits state permit approval.

Funding is in place, but the bidding process will not proceed until the permit is approved, according to Shaeffer.

“Timelines are rough at this point,” he said.

State Rep. Joe Hamm, R-Montoursville, who hosted the meeting, said, “I just want to see the project get done.”

The $5 million project will involve a new spillway and drainage filter system and other improvements to meet Department of Environmental Protection safety standards.

Officials assured the public that the dam at the 389-acre reservoir is not experiencing any failures.

“We want to prevent an emergency,” Shaeffer said. “This is good news.”

The lake will be drained at the rate of about two feet per week during which fish salvage operations will be underway.

Some fish will be transported to the Williamsport area of the Susquehanna River.

“We are not going to get every fish,” Shaeffer said. “We’ll do our best.”

Officials said fish gathering can be dangerous and made it clear they do not want volunteers to help with the work.

Fish species include bass, crappies, walleye, and sunfish.

After the lake is refilled, fish will be placed in the water, starting with bass. All species will be carefully monitored, according to officials.

The first five years following restoration of fish to the lake, catch-and-release angling for all species will be in effect.

Tyler Nieman, of the Fish & Boat Commission, noted that other work will include soil erosion prevention measures, riparian upgrades, and habitat management and restoration.

Lake access areas are also expected to undergo improvements.

In response to a question, Shaeffer said there are no plans to construct a walking path around the lake.

Concern was raised about the proliferation of mosquitoes during drawdown activities. However, Shaeffer assured the public that is not normally an issue.

Officials noted the agency has been involved with other lake drawdowns.

“We manage 60 dams in the state,” Shaeffer said.

Rose Valley Lake was constructed in 1972.