Clark Lake has an underwater wonderland.  Not everything beneath the surface ought to be there. That’s what Clark Lake Clean Up focused on yesterday (Sat 5/18).   This short video tells the story.

The crew reports they only scratched the surface.  But their haul away made a difference.  Take a look at the blemishes removed.

Of course this effort does not have to be a one and done.  Just like the Spirit Trail, clean up the lake can go on whenever someone spots something on the bottom that should not be there – poles, stakes, cement blocks, cans, bottles, lawn chairs, abandoned boats, and maybe that cell phone that went over the side. Some items should remain – anchors for swim rafts and the two underwater preservation sites.  One is the Underwater Yacht Club at the best end used by divers for training purposes.  The other marks the impact zone of a fatal plane crash between Kentucky Point and Pleasant View (scroll down for more on that).

Removing the large, heavy items, was only possible with B.J. Lyons at the helm of his barge.  In the video, you can see the difference that made in removing a 55 gallon drum.

After the Clean Up volunteers relaxed with live music on the Eagle’s Nest Lakeside Patio.

 

Clark Lake has two Underwater Wonderland preservation sites – the Underwater Yacht Club at the West End near the Township Park, and the site of the fatal plane crash monument (triangulated by Pleasant View, Kentucky Point and Eagle Point).  These areas should be avoided during any cleanup activity.

Here’s a look at the Underwater Yacht Club in a video by Kelly Kohn.

This map describes locations to be preserved for Divers Mast.  They use this area for training purposes.

The fatal plane crash site is located by triangulating locations in the Kentucky Point Cove and Pleasant View.   In August 2016, brothers Connor and Will Stewart donned scuba gear and restored an underwater monument.  The story of this marker began on Saturday, August 25, 1990.  That’s when Harry Faling, while flying a single-engine plane over the lake, nose dived into the water. Clark Lakers rushed to the scene to rescue Harry.  He had not survived.  So, sadly the effort turned into a recovery.  Left underwater was a debris field of hundreds of parts.  John Koplin, who lived in the Kentucky Point Cove until he passed away in 2020, snorkeled the area over a period of weeks and fished out remnants.  One part was a wheel housing.  John created an underwater monument from it.  He poured concrete into a mold and inscribed Harry Faling’s name with date of birth and death.  He then placed it precisely at the point of impact.  For the complete account of the crash, click here.

 

Thanks to Dotty Karkheck for designing the Clark Lake Clean Up logo.