Recreational and Educational Opportunities
The HCWSA has a number of opportunities for public involvement and education, including light recreation and outdoor activities for all members of the family. Various HCWSA facilities are designed and operated to accommodate such public access. One of the most popular activities at the HCWSA is public fishing on select reservoirs. While HCWSA reservoirs allow for limited public fishing throughout the year, the public must note that they otherwise operate very differently from recreational lakes and larger bodies of public waters, as they must adhere to much more stringent regulatory oversight because of their primary use as public drinking water reservoirs.
Fishing and Boating on the Authority's reservoirs.
Any resident or property owner of Henry County, Georgia may obtain a permit from Henry County Water to fish at select HCWSA reservoirs, which typically rotate in terms of public access each year to protect fish habitat.
The Regular Season for public fishing at HCWSA reservoirs concludes at the end of each November, when the Winter Fishing Season begins with limited access to select reservoirs - typically the same ones that were open during the previous regular season. The Winter Season typically runs from December through the end of February of the following year.
The 2009-10 Winter Fishing Season at Henry County Water includes public access to the Tussahaw and Gardner Reservoirs during select weekends. These two reservoirs, which were open during the 2009 Regular Fishing Season, will be accessible from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (roughly dawn to dusk) on the weekends of: Dec. 11-13, 2009; Jan. 8-10 and Jan. 22-24, as well as Feb. 5-7, and Feb. 19-21, 2010.
The Tussahaw Reservoir was opened to the public for fishing for the first time during 2009. The reservoir began filling in the fall of 2005, and was available for drinking water production at the Tussahaw Water Treatment Plant beginning in 2007. The reservoir needed ample time for the fish population to grow and for that habitat to mature before it could host public fishing. (Maps for the docking areas open on the new Tussahaw Reservoir are available at HCWSA offices.)
RULES AND REGULATIONS CONCERNING USE OF RESERVOIRS
PERMIT Any resident or property owner of Henry County may obtain an Authority Reservoir use permit by paying the established fee set out herein and executing the required release form. Said permit may be obtained from the office of the Henry County Water and Sewerage Authority at 1695 Hwy. 20 West, McDonough, Georgia, during normal business hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
TIME OF USE Fishing will be permitted on the Tussahaw and Gardner Reservoirs from March 5th through November 28th, 2010 (or as determined by the General Manager) from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday only, plus Memorial Day, and Labor Day. Scheduled winter fishing dates are January 8,9,10,22,23,24th, February 5,6,7,19,20,21st, and December 17, 18, 19th. The Authority may close its Reservoir(s) at any time without notice or refund of permit fees. Reservoir schedule changes will be posted on the Authority Web Site at www.hcwsa.com
GUESTS Permit holders may take one guest, dependent children and/or children not requiring a fishing license.
PERMIT FEES The cost of said permit shall be $45.00 and will be good for one year from the date of issue. Senior citizens (persons aged 62 and older), and handicapped persons may purchase permits at the reduced rate of $25.00. The fees collected shall be used to offset the expenses incurred by the Authority for the operation and maintenance of the Reservoirs.
REGULATIONS FOR USE OF RESERVOIR(S)
Must enter at public access.
No person shall be authorized use of the Authority's Reservoir(s) for any purpose other than those specified.
Must sign in with Reservoir attendant and must sign out prior to Leaving. A valid photo ID must be presented with permit.
No fishing is allowed without a valid fishing license.
No unauthorized fishing tournaments.
All boats must be approved by the Department of Natural Resources and must have life jackets.
No more than two (2) poles in use per person.
No trotlines or set hooks are allowed.
No littering, fires or overnight camping shall be allowed.
No material except for boats, life jackets, and fishing equipment will be allowed on said Reservoir unless it is biodegradable. Non-biodegradable materials must not be left on the premises.
Maintain a safe distance from any dam, spillway, aerator (Do Not Cross Buoy Lines), pumping station or intake tower.
No swimming or wading will be allowed at any time.
No alcoholic beverages, drugs or firearms are allowed upon the premises.
Do not trespass on private property and do not enter restricted areas.
Rule violation will result in permit revocation without refund.
Reservoir(s) may be closed at any time without prior notice.
Our Reservoirs are our Drinking Water Supply. Running gasoline engines is prohibited.
VIOLATION AND PUNISHMENT FOR NON-PERMITTED USE OF RESERVOIRS
Any non-permitted user of the Authority's Reservoir(s) shall be considered a trespasser and shall be punished for such offense as authorized under the laws of the State of Georgia. Any permitted person violating any of the laws of the State of Georgia while on said Reservoir shall be punished as prescribed by the laws of this state.
Any person who fishes on the Authority's Reservoirs without first obtaining a permit from the Authority as prescribed above will be issued a citation to appear in the State Court of Henry County. The penalty for any person fishing on the Authority's Reservoir(s) without a permit shall be a minimum fine of $100.00 or 30 days in jail for the first offense; $300.00 or 60 days in jail for the second offense; $500.00 or 90 days in jail for the third offense; $1,000.00 or 120 days in jail for the fourth offense.
The Authority's Reservoir(s) are policed by the Authority's Enforcement Officer and lawful deputies and authorized agents of Henry County as well as employees of the Department of Natural Resources of the State of Georgia.
