Sinkhole lakes can be delineated into a progressive
sequence of lake formation based on geomorphic types (Sinkhole Evolution). The progression begins with the initial collapse, forming a sinkhole. The depression may be open or, if a portion of the depression is below the water table, it may be filled with water. As sediments are washed into the depression, the sinkhole becomes plugged. The process continues until the sinkhole is buried.

Lake Lowry is in the transitional phase (middle age), when the lake becomes partially or completely plugged, the lake begins to develop a shallower and flatter bottom. During this phase the plug may be flushed into the karst (faults, fractures, and/or solution pipes), allowing the sinkhole to reactivate and revert to an active subsidence phase, described above as subsidence activity and hiatus with slow sediment depostion (A-A’ and B-B’). This may occur several times until sediment accumulates faster than dissolution of the underlying limestone.