I really cannot believe I am typing this but they finally gave in and opened the lake up to us. It feels wild to think about all those times we argued about zebra mussels and security risks while staring at the water and now we actually get to go out …
November 10, 2017
We would like to see Lake Manassas open to the public for limited recreational use.
Final supporters
The beautiful Lake Manassas is an asset to our community and it should be utilized to it’s fullest potential. The 770-acre reservoir could provide so much more than drinking water to the surrounding area. The arguments to keep the Lake closed are insufficient to warrant its continued closure. The City of Manassas claims that they won't open the reservoir to the public due to concerns about terrorist threats and potential introduction of zebra mussels. Those are unreasonable threats to justify what we are missing out on. Reservoirs around our state are open to the public for regulated recreational use, and perhaps besides a prestigious golf course; nobody seems to be fighting against the idea of opening up the reservoir to the public.
Lake Manassas could provide wonderful outdoor recreation opportunities to residents of the City of Manassas and Prince William County. It would provide another opportunity for community members to lead healthy lifestyles, and it already exists ‘in our backyard’ – so to speak. If lake Manassas were open for fishing and non-motorized boating, it would mitigate the need for local residents to drive more than an hour away for a similar outdoor experience.
Tens of thousands of dollars(!) are spent annually to enforce the closure of the reservoir. Instead of expending resources to patrol the lake and prevent unlawful trespassing, tax dollars should be spent on supervising the lake for healthy, sustainable, regulated use.
At the very least, the public deserves an updated, thorough, and scientifically based explanation in the form of a government study as to why the Lake is to remain closed for the foreseeable future.
Why should we continue to push this topic under the rug and ignore the recreational potential of the Lake? We shouldn’t.
Let the Manassas City council know how you feel by signing this petition.
If you are interested in spreading the word, we encourage you to share the link to this petition via facebook for your friends and family to see!
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
October 9, 2017
Reached 100 supporters
May 2, 2016
April 30, 2016
We are getting so close to that first hundred and honestly it is just wild to me that we still have to fight to use our own water. Could you tell just one neighbor today because if everyone here pulls in just one person we will hit that mark and actually have some real weight behind us when we talk to the city.
228 Comments
Public access to the lake would enrich the lives of surrounding residents. I have managed several youth rowing programs, and Lake Manassas offers a premier location to potentially offer a program for area youth and adults, and generate revenue which would be invested back to the city or lake.
People are already fishing there, why not open the lake to the public when I fished there in the past at least we were picking up the trash that blew off the golf courses also look at the money Manassas could make from boat rentals and ramp fees.
We would love to be able to use the lake for fishing! Growing up on the other end Of the county allowed for great memories on the Occoquan - paddle boating and fishing. Would love to give my kids the same experiences!
I grew up here. The community use of the lake was never in question, until the wealthy members of the county didn't want to see hard working neighbors enjoying nature out of their back windows.
This is a public reservoir, and there are hundreds of other public reservoirs all over the state of VA that are open to public use and don't have any terrorist threats or zebra mussels. Many of them allow fishing and non-motorized boating, for which I am an advocate for that action on Lake Manassas.
Used to fish here as a kid. Such a shame that public access to now denied. Remind me why we keep paying taxes and are supporting politicians that take away access to our property.
So sad that this lake has been off limits for to long, fished there years ago and it is one of the best fishing ever! would love to see It opened again!
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I really cannot believe I am typing this but they finally gave in and opened the lake up to us. It feels wild to think about all those times we argued about zebra mussels and security risks while staring at the water and now we actually get to go out …
November 10, 2017
We would like to see Lake Manassas open to the public for limited recreational use.
Final supporters
The beautiful Lake Manassas is an asset to our community and it should be utilized to it’s fullest potential. The 770-acre reservoir could provide so much more than drinking water to the surrounding area. The arguments to keep the Lake closed are insufficient to warrant its continued closure. The City of Manassas claims that they won't open the reservoir to the public due to concerns about terrorist threats and potential introduction of zebra mussels. Those are unreasonable threats to justify what we are missing out on. Reservoirs around our state are open to the public for regulated recreational use, and perhaps besides a prestigious golf course; nobody seems to be fighting against the idea of opening up the reservoir to the public.
Lake Manassas could provide wonderful outdoor recreation opportunities to residents of the City of Manassas and Prince William County. It would provide another opportunity for community members to lead healthy lifestyles, and it already exists ‘in our backyard’ – so to speak. If lake Manassas were open for fishing and non-motorized boating, it would mitigate the need for local residents to drive more than an hour away for a similar outdoor experience.
Tens of thousands of dollars(!) are spent annually to enforce the closure of the reservoir. Instead of expending resources to patrol the lake and prevent unlawful trespassing, tax dollars should be spent on supervising the lake for healthy, sustainable, regulated use.
At the very least, the public deserves an updated, thorough, and scientifically based explanation in the form of a government study as to why the Lake is to remain closed for the foreseeable future.
Why should we continue to push this topic under the rug and ignore the recreational potential of the Lake? We shouldn’t.
Let the Manassas City council know how you feel by signing this petition.
If you are interested in spreading the word, we encourage you to share the link to this petition via facebook for your friends and family to see!
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
October 9, 2017
Reached 100 supporters
May 2, 2016
April 30, 2016
We are getting so close to that first hundred and honestly it is just wild to me that we still have to fight to use our own water. Could you tell just one neighbor today because if everyone here pulls in just one person we will hit that mark and actually have some real weight behind us when we talk to the city.
228 Comments
Lake Manassas was 100% closed because of the golf course. Money was involved using the excuse of terrorists poisoning the water. Removing access to the lake only leads to fewer people watching the lake and thus someone who wished to poison the water can do so without interuption
Public access to the lake would enrich the lives of surrounding residents. I have managed several youth rowing programs, and Lake Manassas offers a premier location to potentially offer a program for area youth and adults, and generate revenue which would be invested back to the city or lake.
People are already fishing there, why not open the lake to the public when I fished there in the past at least we were picking up the trash that blew off the golf courses also look at the money Manassas could make from boat rentals and ramp fees.
We would love to be able to use the lake for fishing! Growing up on the other end Of the county allowed for great memories on the Occoquan - paddle boating and fishing. Would love to give my kids the same experiences!
I grew up here. The community use of the lake was never in question, until the wealthy members of the county didn't want to see hard working neighbors enjoying nature out of their back windows.
This is a public reservoir, and there are hundreds of other public reservoirs all over the state of VA that are open to public use and don't have any terrorist threats or zebra mussels. Many of them allow fishing and non-motorized boating, for which I am an advocate for that action on Lake Manassas.
Used to fish here as a kid. Such a shame that public access to now denied. Remind me why we keep paying taxes and are supporting politicians that take away access to our property.
So sad that this lake has been off limits for to long, fished there years ago and it is one of the best fishing ever! would love to see It opened again!
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Lake Manassas was 100% closed because of the golf course. Money was involved using the excuse of terrorists poisoning the water. Removing access to the lake only leads to fewer people watching the lake and thus someone who wished to poison the water can do so without interuption