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.
Fishing and Boating on the Authority's reservoirs.
Any resident or property owner of Henry County may fish at select HCWSA reservoirs, which typically rotate - to protect fish habitat - each year as far as being open for public fishing.
The 2009 Regular Season for public fishing at HCWSA reservoirs begins the first weekend of March (actually opening day is Wednesday, Feb. 25, and fishing is available the last weekend in February, which includes Sunday, March 1) through the end of November. The Reservoirs available for public fishing during the 2009 Regular Season are the Gardner (Indian Creek) Reservoir and the new Tussahaw Reservoir. The new Tussahaw Reservoir is open to the public for fishing for the first time since it began filling in the fall of 2005, now that there has been ample time for the fish population to grow and habitat to mature. (Maps for the docking areas open on the new Tussahaw Reservoir are available at HCWSA offices.)
During the 2009 Regular Season, these two reservoirs are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (or dusk when it's not daylight savings time), on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Public fishing is also available on July 4 (which is a Saturday this year), as well as the Monday holidays of Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Those interested in public fishing at HCWSA reservoirs must obtain a fishing permit for $40 and sign the required release form, in addition to following all Rules and Regulations Concerning Use of the Reservoirs. The fees for fishing permits are collected to offset the expenses incurred by the Authority for the operation and maintenance of the reservoirs for recreational purposes.
A fishing permit may be obtained from the HCWSA Headquarters Building at 1695 Highway 20 West in McDonough, during the Authority's normal business hours from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A fishing permit is good for one full calendar year from the date of purchase. The Authority also allows permit holders to take one guest with them for boating and fishing, including children accompanied by an adult, without requiring an additional permit.
Once the 2009 Regular Season concludes at the end of November, the HCWSA should likely resume its Winter Fishing Season, with public fishing available on select weekends in December of 2009, as well as January and February of 2010.
The HCWSA reserves the right to close a reservoir and prohibit fishing and boating on an allotted day at management's discretion, for maintenance or operational purposes.
For questions concerning public fishing or other outdoor recreational or educational opportunities, contact the HCWSA reservoirs and land management office at 678-583-3930.
