Pacemaker Fishing Forum

Well.... here it is. Just what I was worried about. This is awful news.

http://www.leesburgtoday.com/news/loudo … f887a.html

they said "some authorized users".  I bet that means the rowers will still use it.  Hopefully they do this without killing too many fish.

Super bummer.  As stated on my report from today I saw a cop when I pulled in and he said nothing as I grabbed my fishing tackle.  Note that I have caught fish each time in 3 trips over the last week and I lost a giant right at my feet today. Get out and fish it while you can... It really is a special lake and the big gals are feeding up as we speak.

We will see what they post for signs ad where.....

We need to voice our concerns and get Beaverdam Reservoir reopened for our use!

Please contact Mark Peterson (mpeterson@loudounwater.org), Executive Director of Stakeholder Relations, Loudoun Water. Telephone 571.291.7942.

Copy of letter I sent to Mr. Peterson.  Maybe it will help spark ideas or help you frame your phone discussion with him.

Mark,
I am an avid fisherman and kayaker who lives in the Ashburn area and frequently enjoys taking my son out fishing and kayaking on Beaverdam Reservoir.  I saw the reports that Loudoun Water had purchased Beaverdam Reservoir and that you (Loudoun Water) planned to close the reservoir to all (except the rowers?) for the next 4 years while making improvements.  This seems an unfair and not well thought out plan.  Beaverdam Reservoir has been a local asset that we all value and do our best to take care of.  Closing it to all (except the rowers) will have a negative impact on the Loudoun County community around the Reservoir.  I have a few concerns:

1.     Why close the entire reservoir?  It is a large body of water.  I can’t imagine that work will be done on all access areas for the entire 4 years.  I would assume you need to do work on the dam, but that could be roped off with buoys to keep people away.  There are 2 main lake access points (opposite shores).  I can’t imagine that you couldn’t keep at least one open during the 4 year time period (alternate which one to do work on the other?).  I assume the rest of the reservoir will remain basically untouched.  Why can’t the public have access to the remaining areas of the lake?
2.    My understanding is that the high school rowers will continue to have access.  That is good.  If they have access, I really can’t understand why the rest of us can’t have access?  If they are safe to use the access roads, docks, and open water, the rest of us taxpayers should be safe as well.  The fact that the rowers are allowed to use the reservoir seems to negate any reason to prevent others from accessing the reservoir.  We are all taxpayers and ALL deserve to access to a public lake like Beaverdam Reservoir, not just a select group.
3.    I am one of many kayakers and fisherman living near Beaverdam.  We all work hard to take care of this body of water.  I know that some people leave trash and ruin the shoreline.  Those are not the kayakers and those people will still go there even if the “rules” say they can’t.   The boaters are generally the ones who will follow the rules, yet we are the people that will suffer the most.
4.    Part of the reason the new developments around Beaverdam have been so popular is their location and access to Beaverdam.  These are your new taxpayers.  Closing the reservoir will negatively affect these new homeowners (I live in Ashburn Village and do NOT own a house in that area).

Bottom line:  Please reconsider your plan to “close” Beaverdam Reservoir to most everyone.  I believe a more equitable plan can be developed that would not interfere with the work you have planned and would also allow the taxpayers to continue to benefit from access to the Reservoir.  I would appreciate a response to at least know you have heard my concerns and hopefully you will be able to let me know you are reconsidering the decisions and developing a plan to re-open the reservoir.

I've finally got my message sent.

http://www.change.org/petitions/loudoun … e_petition

Pacemaker wrote:

http://www.change.org/petitions/loudoun-county-board-of-supervisors-allow-continued-access-of-beaver-dam-reservoir-for-the-public?recruiter=92796612&utm_campaign=signature_receipt&utm_medium=email&utm_source=share_petition

Signed. Thanks for sharing that, Ernie!

Pacemaker wrote:

Their excuse for closing is "liability". Group wishing to gain access must file a request, have insurance and they will consider groups on a case-by-case basis.

This is interesting. I was at bicycle outfitters in brambleton last week talking to one of the guys who works there and he said they did a trail cleanup day at the reservoir  a few weeks ago and are working with the county to upgrade the current trails and put a mountain bike trail system around the reservoir. That throws out the insurance part of it.

If they are worried about the HS kids swimming out there in the summer then they should police it like they have the last few summers. I've seen them throwing out swimmers and checking canoes/kayaks/paddle boards for lifejackets the last few summers.

GregF wrote:

Why would boating on Beaverdam be any different than any other state or county owned body of water as far as insurance goes?  That doesn't make sense to me.  We don't have to sign waivers to go on Burke Lake.

Exactly

It looks to me that this is going the way of Lake Manassas.  I do not see access opening back up.  I was annoyed before, but now I am pissed that they can take away our access to such a great county resource.  Population has slowly eroded the beauty of this place  and mismanagement will finish the job.  Such is "progress".