Earle’s Lake in Newtown Square and part of the dam that supports it might soon be gone, writes Caroline O’Halloran for savvymainline.com.

If nothing changes, a Pennsylvania DEP-ordered partial dam breach by the end of October would drain the five-acre lake toward Radnor homes into the Darby Creek watershed.

The dam, failing for years, is deemed a “High Hazard” by the state.

George Earle III, the 30^th governor of Pennsylvania, created Earle’s Lake 110 years ago for community recreation.

In 1967, the family sold land around the lake to developers . Homes and condos have sprouted up, including the 212-condo Green Countrie Village.

The dam was damaged in 2012 by Hurricane Irene.

The DEP has  ordered GCV to repair or breach the dam, costing $800,000 to $1 million.

GVC homeowners voted in 2017 to breach the dam.

Lake homeowner Ashley Wilson wants the lake turned into a nonprofit, believing that draining the lake will impact wildlife and homeowners downstream.

“All this water is bringing sediment and debris and the shoreline is eroding. The dam breach is not just a Radnor Township issue. It’s a Bryn Mawr issue. It’s a Bala Cynwyd issue.”

Read more about Earle’s Lake and the complexities of a dam breach here.

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