Oak Mountain State Park is lowering Double Oak Lake by about 12 feet so crews can repair the marina, boat ramps and beach area before swimmers return next summer. The joint project with Shelby County will reduce the lake’s size by roughly 75%; the lake is described as the park’s most used, and some infrastructure has not been updated since around the 1970s, according to 280 Living.
A 14-inch siphon pipe is being used to lower the water. Central District Superintendent with Alabama State Parks Larry Warren said hurricane weather slowed the drawdown: “We were definitely delayed a bit by the hurricane weather that came through and slowed down us draining the water,” he told 280 Living. He said the work was back on track as fall weather turned drier.
What's Getting Fixed
The repair plan covers several parts of the lakefront. Crews plan to address erosion on multiple concrete boat ramps, repair piers at the boat rental area, add sand to the beach and replace the swimming-area boundary marker with a non-floating design, according to 280 Living. Officials say the new marker is intended to help with swimmer safety.
Once the water reaches the target level, workers will inspect the ramps. The repairs are expected to make it easier for boat trailers to back up to them. Shelby County Chief Facilities Management Officer Trey Gauntt said the work was overdue and that the drawdown would leave enough depth for fish to survive, with little expected effect on the lake’s fish and wildlife.
Timeline and Cost
Park officials chose to do the work in the off-season specifically to lower water levels without disrupting lake visitors during peak months. Oak Mountain State Park is providing its own maintenance staff to carry out much of the project. The renovations will cost roughly $70,000, with the county covering about half that amount.
Despite the scale of the drawdown, the visible payoff may be subtle. Anyone visiting the beach area in the summer of 2027 likely won't notice major visible changes, since much of the work involves structural repairs below the waterline and around the ramps rather than a reimagined beach. Officials say the work around the lake should be fully completed for guests to enjoy by spring and summer 2027.
A Pattern of Off-Season Repairs
Oak Mountain has previously lowered a lake for off-season work. In 2017, the park reduced Beaver Lake by about eight feet and added a beach and two piers for swimming and fishing. The project cost about $140,000 and was completed that April, according to 280 Living. Shelby County Commissioner for District 7 Lindsey Allison represents the district that covers most of the park; the county and park system coordinate on projects and upgrade schedules throughout the year.
The beach and marina sit inside a park with a long history of expansion. Oak Mountain State Park originated in 1927 as a 940-acre park atop Double Oak Mountain under the Alabama State Lands Act, and has since grown to 11,861 acres, making it Alabama's largest state park, per a report from 280 Living. Double Oak Lake itself spans roughly 925 acres, the busiest of the park's lakes for day-trippers and boaters alike.
Separate Scrutiny Over Drownings
The lake work is separate from scrutiny of drowning deaths at the park’s beach. Shelby County Coroner Lina Evans told ABC 33/40 there had been seven drownings at the park in the preceding five years, most in the beach area. The station has also reported at least 10 drownings at the park since 2012; another ABC 33/40 report called a more recent death the ninth since 2012 and said seven had occurred in the prior five years. The totals differ by report and filing date. Officials say the non-floating swimming-area marker is intended to help with safety, but it was part of the broader renovation and was not described as a response to a specific incident.
Swimming Rules and Other Park Work
The planned non-floating marker is one change to the swimming area, while Alabama’s published guidance also sets out visitor responsibilities. Alabama State Parks’ current Oak Mountain beach guidance says swimming is at visitors’ own risk and no lifeguard is on duty. Separately, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources regulations direct visitors to swim only in designated areas and obey orders from lifeguards or park officials. The lake project is also distinct from a larger campground renovation at Oak Mountain. Outdoor Alabama reported that the $13 million campground project began in October 2023 and was funded through the 2022 parks bond issue and Shelby County Commission support.
