Lake Drummond Reservation Reopened; Boating Access
Incident: South One Wildland Fire
Released: 7/16/2008
News Release
Contact: Gerald Rogers FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Phone: (757) 201-7241 June 16, 2008
#08-11
Lake Drummond Reservation reopens; Dismal Swamp Canal to reduce lock openings to 2 per day
CHESAPEAKE, Va. - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has reopened the Lake Drummond Reservation to visitors, however, boat access to Lake Drummond remains closed. The reservation was closed June 13 as a safety precaution due to the high winds and smoke created by the wildfires in the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
A public notice was also issued by the Corps today stating that the Dismal Swamp Canal, effective July 23 and until further notice, will reduce its lock openings from 4 per day to 2 per day at Deep Creek, Va., and South Mills, N.C. The locks will be operated only at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., 7 days a week. The drawbridges adjacent to these locations will be operated in conjunction with the lock openings.
This joint action by the Corps and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife is being taken to conserve the available water supply in the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. The restriction is expected to be temporary until sufficient rain falls in the Lake Drummond watershed to recharge the swamp.
Vessels unable to comply with the reduced schedule can transit the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal, through the Great Bridge Lock in Chesapeake, Va., 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. Operators will monitor Channel 13. For more information, call the Corps at (757) 201-7642; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at (757) 986-3705.
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