State officials are lowering the water level at Sylvia Lake by about five feet after inspectors identified cracks in the aging dam that created the lake more than a century ago.

“We’re lowering the water level about five feet to get below those cracks,” Park Ranger Joe Fernandez said Tuesday.

The dam, believed to have been built in 1918, is showing visible signs of deterioration. Water could be seen seeping through the cracks this week, and Fernandez said water was squirting out during the winter when lake levels were higher.

The lake, part of Sylvia Lake State Park, spans more than 200 acres and is a popular destination for campers, swimmers, boaters and anglers. The park will remain open during the drawdown process, which is scheduled to begin Monday and could take up to two weeks, Fernandez said.

It’s not yet clear how the lowered water level will affect the lake’s main swimming area.

“We’re kind of waiting to see what happens when we draw down to that level,” Fernandez said. “That’s one of our big things — where we provide recreation on this lake — and we’ll try to minimize the impacts to park users, but the swimming area will be impacted.”

After the lake is lowered, the state will monitor the dam and evaluate long-term repair options. A spokesperson for Washington State Parks said the agency currently does not have funding allocated for repairs but could request support from the state Legislature in the future.