| lake_namename = DutchLake SpringsHydra

| type = quarry lake/recreation area

In 1933 the National Portland Cement Company purchased the land now known as Dutch Springs and began manufacturing cement and mining limestone. As the mining operation continued, the quarry began to fill with water. For the remainder of the quarry’s operational life, water had to be continuously pumped out. When National Portland Cement shut down in the 1970s, the pumps shut down as well and the now {{convert|50|acre|m2|sing=on}} quarry filled with water.<ref name=Morgan>{{cite journal |author=Morgan, Julie |title=Keeping 'em Diving in the Keystone State |journal=Sport Diver |url=http://www.sportdiver.com/keywords/pennsylvania/keeping-em-diving-keystone-state |accessdateaccess-date=2011-02-21}}</ref>

In 1980, the land was bought and turned into a freshwater diving facility.<ref name=Morgan/> The facility is currently owned by StuStuart Schooley.<ref name=Cassi2010>{{cite journal |author=Cassi, Sarah |title=Unconscious diver at Dutch Springs revived by rescuers |date=2010-11-06 |journal=[[The Express-Times]] |url=http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/nazareth/index.ssf/2010/11/diver_at_dutch_springs_found_u.html |accessdateaccess-date=2011-02-21}}</ref> Between 1986 and 2015, at least 16 deaths occurred at Dutch Springs, including that of a teenage boy in 2011.<ref name=Lester>{{cite journal |author=Lester, Patrick |title=Dutch Springs deaths illustrate danger of scuba diving |date=2015-08-01 |journal=[[The Washington Times]] |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/aug/1/dutch-springs-deaths-illustrate-danger-of-scuba-di/ |access-date=2023-03-21}}</ref><ref name=Koomar>{{cite journal |author=Koomar, Susan |title=Royersford teen killed in Lehigh Valley [updated] |date=2011-05-23 |journal=Patch News |url=https://patch.com/pennsylvania/limerick/royersford-teen-killed-in-lehigh-valley |access-date=2023-03-21}}</ref>

The quarrylake is now home to many fish. Different species include [[largemouth bass]], [[bluegill]]s, [[koi]], [[yellow perch]] as well as [[Rainbow trout|rainbow]], [[zebra mussel]], [[Crayfish]], and palomino [[trout]].<ref name=Huth2011>{{cite journal |author=Huth, Kelly |title=Boy Scout Merit Badge now offered at Dutch Springs |date=2011-02-08 |journal=[[The Express-Times]] |url=http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/events/index.ssf/2011/02/boy_scout_merit_badge_now_offe.html |accessdateaccess-date=2011-02-21}}</ref><ref name=Wichert2010>{{cite journal |author=Wichert, Bill |title=Scuba divers say goodbye to 2009 at Lower Nazareth Township's Dutch Springs |date=2010-01-01 |journal=[[The Express-Times]] |url=http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/nazareth/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1262322310295660.xml&coll=3 |accessdateaccess-date=2011-02-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713195855/http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/nazareth/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fnews-0%2F1262322310295660.xml&coll=3 |archive-date=2011-07-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==UseFacilities==

Today, Dutch Springs is an attraction for scuba divers of all levels. Sunken wooden platforms are used for diver certification testing, and numerous attractions such as a [[fire truck]], [[school bus]], [[Tram|trolley]] and several [[aircraft]] are submerged at different depths throughout the quarry.<ref name=Wichert2010/>

* [http://www.dutchspringsLakeHydra.com DutchLake SpringsHydra Official Web Sitee]

* [http://njscuba.net/reefs/chart_pa_dutch_springs.htmlphp Dutch Springs page on njscuba.net] – detailed article with map and many photographs

[[Category:GeographyRivers of Northampton County, Pennsylvania]]