An empty Shaver Lake has become a bit of a tourist attraction; it’s drawing thousands to the historic site, everyone trying to get a glimpse of what’s underneath.
“It’s kind of amazing what they've done” say onlookers. “It’s quite a site.”
A dry Shaver Lake is attracting thousands. “Turn around, see if you can see it”. History is in view. Those searching for the history point down to the bottom. “If you look to the left side—yes—that’s it.” The family is looking a sunken boat at the lake’s bottom; it was used in the late 1800's as a ferry.
If you look close, there's the old mill and old flume. “The mill opened around 1890; in 1913 it ceased operation when Edison bought it and flooded the area,” says Forest Ecologist Don Dukleth.
“It’s beautiful,” says John and Lorraine Alcorn. The Alcorn's know the lake's history; John's family helped run the mill. “I marvel how a few men with oxen and mules could get so much work done,” says John.
The site use to be alive with a mill that turned out lumber and a flume that helped move it to town. “They built a flume; it went down from Shaver to the town of Clovis near the rodeo grounds,” says Dukleth.
40 years of history, buried for more than a century. “When you've looked at the lake for so many years and see what's at the bottom, it's a lot deeper than I thought,” marveled Alcorn.
The lake has been drained for maintenance; crews are attaching a geomembrane. “It's a really fancy plastic liner,” says Dukleth.
The work is turning up crowds and some that want to get close. “People think they'll find the diamond ring that fell off their parents fishing boat or fishing lures or get their own piece of history from the mill site,” says Dukleth. But no one will walk down to the lake, they can't. It's off limits, but that isn't stopping anyone from catching a glimpse of history from the above. “It’s amazing the lake will be filled by Memorial Day” says an onlooker.
Crews say this will be the last time we see the lake at this level; it won’t likely be drained again for another generation.
Christina Lusby Reporting.
TXT 24
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