Friends Caring for Cowan Lake State Park

10/13/2026

🍂 A HUGE THANK YOU from Friends Caring for Cowan Lake! 🍂

We want to send a heartfelt thank you to everyone who came out to Harvest Fest and participated in the activities! ❤️ Whether you stopped by the cabin for concessions, purchased tickets for the 50/50 raffle, joined in on the other activities, or made a donation, we appreciate each and every one of you!

Your support means so much to us and helps us continue making improvements to our beautiful Cowan Lake State Park while bringing more fun events like this to our community for years to come! 🌳🍁

We are so grateful for such an amazing community and for everyone who helps make these events possible. Thank you for supporting Friends Caring for Cowan Lake and helping us keep our park a wonderful place for everyone to enjoy! 💚

Thank you for being part of what makes Cowan Lake so special! 🧡🍂

10/10/2026

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The 50/50 Split the Pot Raffle is going on NOW💰
Stop into the Commissary today and tomorrow to get your tickets!
Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5

📅 Drawing:
Saturday, October 10th at 6 PM
📍 At the Commissary

All proceeds go to Friends Caring for Cowan Lake State Park, supporting projects and events throughout the park🌳

Don’t miss your chance to win AND support our park family!
Be sure to follow us throughout the weekend for updates, fun, and more happening around the campground⛺🍁

10/07/2026

October 2026 Events

The park’s Naturalists have been busy putting programs together for you. They are free and include hiking, raptors, archery, various water sports, and many more great activities. You should come check them out!

10/07/2026

Here is some great information, from ODNR, for anyone wanting to know which parks have fall color changes. Who else is ready to enjoy the beautiful fall colors? 🍁🍂

Check the latest update, plan your scenic drive, and keep updated on fall color in Ohio, The Heart of it All: https://bit.ly/4rsf6Q9

10/07/2026

The accessible parking lot for the new ADA-compliant EZ kayak launch has been paved. This paving was partially funded by a $10,000 Amazon Clinton County Community Grant. Many thanks to Amazon for their support of the park. We also thank Simmons Paving and Seal Coating, Inc. for the excellent job installing the asphalt. We encourage everyone to try the new ADA-compliant EZ kayak launch to enjoy the fall colors. The water will begin to be drained from the lake in preparation for the dam rehabilitation project, which starts November 1, 2026.

09/29/2026

Below is a report from LOCAL 12 WKRC-TV that effectively summarizes the upcoming Cowan Lake Dam Rehabilitation Project. https://www.facebook.com/reel/1121362680455915

09/24/2026

Cowan Lake Dam Improvement Timeline & Funding

Cowan Lake Dam Improvement Timeline & Funding

We want to share a quick overview of how the Cowan Lake Dam rehabilitation project has developed over the past few years and how it’s being funded.

• 2020 Assessment
ODNR completed a full evaluation of Cowan Lake Dam to identify safety deficiencies and outline rehabilitation options needed to meet current dam safety regulations.

• FY 2025–2026 Capital Budget
As part of ODNR’s Statewide Dam Rehabilitation Initiative, funding was allocated for professional engineering services to complete final design and permitting for dam improvements.
Design budget: $1,183,804

• FY 2027–2028 Capital Budget
Governor DeWine signed the FY 27–28 capital budget on June 15, 2026, moving Cowan Lake Dam into the rehabilitation phase.
Construction budget: $21,689,000

• September 2026
Final (100%) design was submitted, the project timeline and drawdown schedule were finalized, and notifications were issued to stake holders and the general public.

These investments will allow ODNR to complete essential upgrades that bring Cowan Lake Dam into compliance with modern safety standards and ensure long‑term protection for both the lake and downstream communities.

09/22/2026

Grand opening of the ADA-compliant EZ paddle sports dock and the handicapped park area along with Lotus Cove Trail.

09/22/2026

The dam and spillway have been in place for about 80 years and require repairs to meet current safety standards and protect those living downstream. This map roughly shows what Cowan Lake will look like after the lake is lowered by 13.5 feet this November. Note that Austin Island will no longer be an island. The lake's surface area will be reduced by about 50%, and the east end of the lake will be dry. What effect will this have on the bald eagle and osprey populations? Will the beaver move their dams closer to the water? Will fish be able to reproduce during the next 2 spring spawning seasons? Is this an opportunity to temporarily thin out the American Lotus? Many unanswered questions will be resolved over the next 2 years. We would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!

09/21/2026

We want to share important information with our community and all lake users. ODNR will begin a major spillway rehabilitation this fall, which requires lowering the lake 13.5 feet starting November 1.

The Cowan Lake Dam and spillway, in service since 1947, no longer meet current safety standards. To ensure long‑term safety for downstream communities and preserve Cowan Lake as a recreational resource, ODNR is moving forward with essential upgrades to improve the structure’s reliability and performance.
Water access will be extremely limited through the 2027 season.

For ongoing updates throughout the project, please visit:
https://ohiodnr.gov/business-and-industry/business-opportunities/improvement-projects/cowan-lake-dam-rehabilitation

Project schedule:
Bidding: October 2026
Notice to Proceed to Contractor: December 2026
Start Dewatering: November 2026
Start Construction: Winter 2027
End Spillway Construction: Spring 2028
Start Refill: Spring 2028
Site Restoration Complete: Fall 2028
Return to Normal Pool: Summer 2028 – Pending Rainfall