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Posted by Katmaster Jr. ok here it is down below. BY SUSAN SHAW-SNOW Staff Reporter Dominion Power's, Jim Thornton, made a presentation to members and directors during the Lake Gaston Association's regular monthly meeting, Aug. 3. Thornton gave an overview of the two-year and 11-year plans that are the result of Dominion Power's recent re-licensing agreement. At least eight projects are slated for development in Dominion's two-year plan, including development of public recreation areas along Lake Gaston, Roanoke Rapids Lake and the Roanoke River. The Roanoke Rapids Lake and the River below the dam projects, include improvements to the Roanoke Rapids Day-use and bank fishing areas around the Roanoke Rapids Dam tailrace. The Roanoke Rapids Day-use area will see improvements to the parking and facilities already available. A sandy beach area will be in place for swimming and the development includes a one-mile walking trail, Frisbee golf course, changing rooms and a snack bar area. The access area will be open seven days per week and the snack bar will be opened between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day. The area will also include a modern playground area for smaller children. The Roanoke Rapids tailrace bank fishing area will see improvements to the path and a bridge built to the tailrace to improve access. Picnic tables will be placed in the area as well. The Lake Gaston day-use area will see many improvements. Twenty-five trees will be planted to produce a shady area and there will be a playground, picnic pavilion, and changing rooms. A new swimming area will be put in along with a handicap path. The fishing pier will get a 15-foot expansion and 2 horseshoe pits will be added. Along the Gaston dam, development will also take place on the north side. The road leading to the dam will be improved to provide better access to the area. A parking area will be added to the saddle dam, along with picnic tables and it all will be made handicap accessible. Thornton said that presently, no plans were offered for the Brunswick, Va. side of Lake Gaston, because there was no land available for recreation development. Other areas slated for recreation and public access development include Stonehouse Creek, Miles Creek and plans are in place to improve the white water opportunities on the river in Weldon. Dominion will follow water flow control that aids in the rapids development in the Weldon area of the Roanoke River. The whitewater plan has not been approved yet and will depend on a declaration with the Corp of Engineers. If approved, flows will be lowered on weekends to improve opportunities for white water rafting, canoeing, and kayaking on the river. A Web site will be developed that will give the flow plan for the weekend so visitors to the area can determine when the best flows will be available for whitewater activities. In the future, the re-licensing plans will be added to Dominion's Web site and the public will be able to examine the entire development package. Also making a presentation to the LGA was Kay Anderson on the newly formed O'Sail organization. Anderson explained the purpose for the organization and discussed its event coming to Lake Gaston Aug. 13, The Crossing. Anderson told the LGA the purpose for O'Sail was to pull all five counties on Lake Gaston together to support volunteerism and provide entertainment opportunities to residents surrounding the lake. The organization is a nonprofit group and will hold fundraising activities to support the arts, infrastructure, and learning opportunities in the area. All funds raised by O'Sail events will stay in the Lake Gaston area. Anderson explained that this weekend's event, The Crossing, is a non-motorized crossing of Lake Gaston along the Eaton Ferry Bridge. Swimmers and floaters will enter the water at Eaton Ferry Marina and cross the lake to Dockside Landing. As of Aug. 3, 60 swimmers and 40 floaters had registered to participate in The Crossing. Registration will continue right up to the start of the event, which is 9 a.m. Saturday. As of Aug. 7, registration is $25 per person and forms may be picked up at the Lake Gaston Chamber of Commerce and any of the marinas on the lake. Email this story Copyright © 2003 Womack Publishing. All Rights Reserved.
on September 24, 2005, 11:18 pm
71.0.123.145
hey yall, this article down below was in the newspaper. it's good news for people on gaston lake, roanoke lake, and everyone around here.
Recreation areas planned on Lake Gaston
Projects range from development of more public access areas to plans to control flows in the Roanoke River to improve white water opportunities. All the public access areas will be made handicap-accessible to meet the American with Disabilities Act standards.
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