Lake Manassas – Public access in 2010?
The Manassas City Council will discuss opportunities to allow public access to Lake Manassas during a special work session on Monday, December 7, 5:30 p.m., at City Hall the Public Works building, 8500 Public Works Drive, Manassas 20110, directions.
Government staff and the Virginia Dept. of Game & Inland Fisheries have been working on a proposal to open Lake Manassas for public fishing, boating (no gas engines) and the quiet enjoyment of the scenic landscape.
Under the current proposal, Game & Inland Fisheries would assume responsibilities for managing surveys, stocking the lake and law enforcement. They would also construct a low-impact gravel parking lot, boat ramp and finger pier for launching and retrieving boats.
The City of Manassas has two options. Under the first scenario, public access to Lake Manassas would be unrestricted, open without registration or fees (except your fishing license). This open-access approach is successful at other Virginia reservoirs, including the Occoquan Reservoir in Prince William, Beaverdam Creek Reservoir in Loudoun, the Abel and Smith Reservoirs in Stafford, Mountain Run and Lake Pelham Reservoirs in Culpeper.
The City’s other option is to place a modular or other structure at the site and contract with local business to manage a concession and collect fees, if imposed. Public access points would be opened at sunup and closed at sundown.
The 800-acre Lake Manassas has been closed to the public for many years. Good fishing spots are few and far between. Lake Manassas would be a welcome addition appreciated by wildlife watchers, paddlers and fishermen alike.
More information will be provided at the City Council’s December 7 worksession. Plan to attend – you’ll hear the latest information and, most important of all, let Councilmen know that opening Lake Manassas to the public is important to you.
Conserve Prince William 2 
Have you seen the site plan? Do we know where access would be set up? In the past, the City considered alowing access off of Glenkirk……right across from the Wiita property.
[…] public access to Lake Manassas at a special work session on Monday, Dec. 7, at City Hall. Read more here and attend the meeting if you can so that the Council knows people want public access to Lake […]
[…] to come. A City Council work session on Lake Manassas is scheduled for 5:30pm, December 7 at City Hall (second […]
Good Evening,
Although I live in MD, I purchase a Fishing License for VA each year and participate in CAG events within. Opening this area for public fishing would definitely be a benifit to fishermen of all ages and genders. Having the area patrolled is also a welcome aspect. We ask that you pass this measure and opent this venue for all of us.
Sincerely,
J. Hopkins
It would be a great thing for the entire community . We can al go boating and fish with the kids.
I bet they could have paid for the reopening of Lake Manassas for 100 years with all the money they spent on sign’s. These sign’s would be the one’s all over the beltway that I see that mean and say absolutely nothing. What a waste. I’m from the NOVA area and loved fishing that lake. To be honest really never fished anywhere else unless I went for saltwater. I can’t tell you how many great times myself, friends and family have had on Lake Manassas. One of the BEST around and it’s been held up in political red tape or whatever else they can think of to keep the sport’s people of America from doing what they love. Jeeez, you figure it’s a win win. Makes ya think a little bit right. I’m sure it’s numerous things but none of which should be keeping us away from the waters we love so much. Thank you for taking the time to read this if you have and hopefully in my lifetime Lake Manassas will open once again. I’ll be turning 41 in 13 days.
Sincerely & Respectfully,
S. Moretti
PLEASE HONOR YOUR WORD AND OPEN LAKE MANASSASS BEFORE I DIE OF OLD AGE WAITING FOR IT. MY AND EVERY OTHER PERSON THAT BOUGHT A FISHING PERMIT HAS PAID TO STOCK IT IN THE PAST AND NOW WE ARE SHUT OUT. NOW MY CHILDREN HAVE GROWN, NOW THEY WANT TO TAKE THEIR CHILDREN TO THE LAKE BUT SOMEBODY IS DRAGGING THEIR HEELS ON THIS ONE. IF CULPEPER COUNTY CAN BUILD A NEW RAMP WHEN NEEDED, WHY CAN’T PRINCE WILLIAM FOLLOW THEIR LEAD? THANK YOU AHEAD OF TIME IN CASE THE OLD AGE THING CATCHES UP WITH ME BEFORE THE RAMP IS BUILT.
When will people learn that unfetterd 24 access to a lake by fisherman offers the lake free 24hr. security by people who have the most genuine concern for the health of the lake. I used to fish Lake Manassass in the late 90’s then it closed. But I could go on and on about lakes and reserviors I’ve fished in VA and other states post 9/11 at all hours (there’s nothing like summer buzzbaiting at 1am) and the powers that be in those areas didnt feel the need (knee jerk) restrict the lake in any way. And really thats what we’re talking about here 9/11 became a convienient excuse for keeping Lake Manassass closed,and access to Beaver Dam and Goose Creek Reservior severly restricted. I have lived in this area primarily Loudoun County as have 4 generations of my family all my life and have noticed the attitude of the people who make the rules over the last cpl decades have been anything but friendly to outdoor sports men and women. Once again folks common sense takes a back seat and good ol boys like me have to take it in the back seat as well.