Pacemaker Fishing Forum

That is great news, Ernie!  I was just thinking about how I missed the reservoir as I flew over on my flight out yesterday.  Keeping the constant pressure on is key as they could easily make reopening a low priority.  Good to know we have a great advocate working on the team.  I honestly feel the regulations were good before the rowing teams got on, but I'm just an old fisherman.  Working with NVRPA is a good move to get someone to control things and hopefully help keep it clean.

Bruce wrote:

Ernie,
Thanks for the hard work and dedication toward this issue. We couldn't ask for a better person to represent all of us going forward.
Bruce

Totally agree with that statement!

Good seeing you again Ernie.  Perhaps I was in a more glass half empty mood at the meeting.  Here is what I heard:

Old news:
-We promise, we'll open it back up (good to hear again, but still old news)
-The place is dangerous, dangerous we tell you, we're going to be doing all sorts of things...really busy....
-We're going to be looking for stakeholder input, we're talking to NVRPA
-We have no dates for anything, not from draining to opening back up to rec users...none.

New news:
-The rowers have been kicked out

Anyway, they promised a press release... it didn't seem to actually make it into any newspapers that I saw...probably because there was no new news!  Leesburg today had already reported the rowers were getting kicked out the week before.
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http://www.loudounwater.org/News-You-Ca … Reservoir/

Utility Commits to Re-Open the Reservoir after the Project is Completed
Loudoun Water announced that Beaverdam Creek Reservoir is closed to all users, including Loudoun Rowing, effective September 9.  The reservoir water levels are being lowered and as a result, all access is prohibited.

"At the direction of our engineering consultants, we are starting to drain the reservoir as part of our evaluation phase of the project," said Loudoun Water Chief Executive Fred Jennings.  "These activities simply make the area too dangerous for the rowing community.  The reservoir will be closed until we are finished with all phases of the renovation, including planning, evaluation, design and construction.  However, Loudoun Water is committed to re-opening the reservoir for managed public recreation as soon as the job is done."

Loudoun Water is in discussions with Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NOVA Parks) to determine the best arrangement to manage the reservoir for public use after construction is complete.  Loudoun Water is also planning to conduct a land-use management study.  This process will call for considerable stakeholder involvement.

"Ultimately, we want the reservoir to be safely enjoyed by all.  Guided by our overall planning process, we will balance our primary responsibility to protect and maintain the reservoir as a long-term drinking water resource with the community's desire to enjoy the scenic and tranquil surroundings that Beaverdam provides," said Jennings.

Loudoun Water purchased the 600-acre Beaverdam Creek Reservoir and surrounding land along with the Goose Creek Reservoir, Goose Creek Water Treatment Plant and water transmission pipeline along the W&OD Trail to the Fairfax County line in January 2014.  The purchase was part of a $30 million deal with the City of Fairfax.

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Anyway, we're far from done.  We're going to be keeping the pressure on them to stay on task.  This isn't over until the fat lady sings.  Stay tuned, we're going to need everyone's help here.

Ernie, they said they would open it back up at the July 31 meeting and had it in print on their FAQs that they recently took down.  I have a copy if you need to see it.

"Our objective is to create a plan that, first and foremost, manages the reservoir as a drinking water resource, while supporting an appropriate level of public use and enjoyment after renovations have been completed."

A month ago our BOS were calling for immediate access.  Now everyone is happy with a promise we already had?

I agree Ernie.

Meanwhile looks like people in FFX are a bit miffed too now:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/res … story.html

Of course we're not the only ones around here having these sorts of acrimonious discussions!  Hopefully we'll get access back more quickly than this:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/man … story.html

Stopped by the Res yesterday as I could see it was drained down from Belmont Ridge. It is drained extremely low! I could see the old bridge I always hear about. I walked out onto the old rowers dock (which is just laying in the dirt now) and snapped as many pics as I could. I then drove over to a new neighborhood by the dam and parked. I cautiously walked up to and on top of the dam (shhhhh, don't tell anyone) to take more pictures. There is still a good amount of water on that end in the corner where the tower is and down the middle where the old creek channel is. There is probably 25-30' of tower showing below the old water line. I'm not sure how deep it gets over there. I hope they keep it near this level so the fish will survive. I'm gonna try reservoir rd and another dock I know of off Belmont Ridge to get as many pics as possible while it's down. Anyone have any new news on it? There wasn't any equipment at the dam. Just a couple trucks parked near the pumping station. I can upload pics if somebody tells me how to di it.

That is one way to keep people away,  Drain it.  No visible work - no surprise.  Sux.

Mustafa- thanks for posting the instructions.....

Time for another lunch?

I talked to LoWa today. They drained the lake and had to replace many valves as expected. They will refill it (naturally).

Here is a link to their site: http://www.loudounwater.org/Residential … enovation/

They will try to keep us up to date.

I expect the Stakeholders group to form during the 1st part of 2015.

What was best about today is that I got an immediate response form Mark and he gave me the update.

Check out the loudoun paddlers facebook page. Tim Sheuerman has posted some photos of the res on there. It is as low as I have seen it during the worst summer drought.

any idea whats making it so low? i dont think drought is the answer, hasnt been THAT bad this year....are they draining it?