Watershed Issues - Panther Hollow Lake

The MON Water Project’s Annie Quinn recently announced that the Department of Public Works (DPW) has agreed to take the lead on the future Restoration of Panther Hollow Lake. The Department of Public Works has submitted its recommendations for the 2027 City of Pittsburgh Budget, and within it, DPW has proposed including a Master Plan for Panther Hollow Lake restoration. 

A master plan is the needed link between significant engineering work that has been completed in the past, and the future lake restoration project.  A master plan will: evaluate dam safety regulations and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) permitting requirements; research and compile reports/studies on the lake from across city departments/agencies/stakeholders; review and revise previous stormwater-centered designs; and host community engagement meetings, as required by its historical preservation designation.

Update: Mayor O’Connor’s draft 2027 budget, released September 30, 2026, includes funding for the Panther Hollow Lake Master Plan.