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TWRA Hosts Listening Session Concerning Carroll County 1,000-Acre Recreation Lake

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HUNTINGDON (May 24) — Hundreds of citizens of Carroll County sought answers to their questions about the Carroll County 1000-Acre Recreational Lake. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will soon own the fishing and recreational lake, and their inventory of managed lakes in Tennessee does not include any lakes for swimming, skiing, or pleasure boating. TWRA hosted an event on May 24 at the Carroll County Civic Center to hear the public’s comments.

During the 1.5-hour question and answer session, the TWRA and citizens were very amicable, seemingly welcoming TWRA as the owner of the lake.

Frank Fiss, chief of fisheries for TWRA said the TWRA and its governing board of Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission will attempt to keep as many of the current activities as possible on the lake. He said he was there to listen, offer a few answers, and to take citizens’ comments back to the TFWC for a final decision.

TWRA is purchasing the 1000-Acre Lake from the Carroll County Watershed Authority (CCWA), a state governmental entity not associated with the County of Carroll government. The $9 million price tag will transfer the lake, headquarters, marina, fuel station, concession area, and RV park to the state agency. CCWA invested almost $30 million in the lake and its mitigation area along Crooked Creek. However, the business revenue model for the lake was inadequate, leaving a deficit budget each year. The 2021-22 budget revealed an approximately $500,000 shortfall, which was subsidized by the Town of Huntingdon, whose leaders guaranteed the financing bonds in case the Watershed Authority was unable to pay.

The $9 million purchase price will retire the debt of the lake and the annual $10 wheel tax on automobile owners will cease on December 31 should the bonds be retired this calendar year.

TWRA will spend $9 million from its budget to purchase the lake, $900,000 in the first year for improvements, and $350,000 annually thereafter.

Carroll County Mayor Joseph Butler said the referendum, approved by the citizens, applied the annual $10 wheel tax to pay 30 percent of the lake’s development cost. According to the referendum, that wheel tax will expire on December 31.

A few of the questions included:
If TWRA will stock and manage fish populations. Answer was yes.
Will TWRA monitoring boating and no wake zones. The answer was yes.
Will TWRA own 50 feet of the shoreline above the water level. The answer is yes, because that is part of the agreement to obtain the original permit from the Army Corp of Engineers.

Will TWRA better control the influx of silt. The answer was TWRA will attempt to work with other state agencies to better control upstream runoff.
Will TWRA allow swimmers to train for triathlons that are held on the lake. TWRA will seek an answer from TFWC.
Will TWRA continue to allow construction of private docks. The agency will let TFWC decided, however, it has asked the Watershed Authority to freeze any new docks.
Will TWRA install shade trees and benches for the public, especially senior citizens. TWRA will evaluate.
Will TWRA had full-time personnel at the lake. During operating hours, there will be a manager and two assistants, plus some other agents when needed.
Will TWRA allow fishing tournaments. The plans are to continue.
Will TWRA add playground equipment and grills. TWRA will evaluate.
Will TWRA continue to allow the concessionaire to operate the concession stand. TWRA will evaluate.
Will TWRA continue to operate the park for recreational vehicles. Still another item to discuss with TFWA.
One other question concerned the renaming of the lake to Lake Halford. A lady citizen asked for a show of hands of those who wants the name to remain as it is. A goodly number of hands were raised.

Fiss said for citizens to talk to their state legislators concerning the name change.