Fishing Forum

Just read this in from the Standard.
After scraping from multiple sources, Morgan County has found the funds necessary to keep Lost Creek Reservoir open to the public.
Tuesday, the County Council approved using economic development, restaurant tax and general funds to cover the county's $10,000 yearly portion of the agreement that will be in effect until 2007.
The council also approved entering into a memorandum of understanding with the state Division of Parks and Recreation, state Division of Wildlife Resources, and the United States Bureau of Reclamation to manage Lost Creek Reservoir. Morgan was the last of the four to approve the agreement.
"As it was put to me, the state is looking to us to see what we're going to do with Lost Creek," Hancock said. "As a matter of economic development, we need to look into it."
In the past five years, Morgan City has significantly added commercial development, which could entice people who use Lost Creek for recreation to spend money in Morgan County, Hancock said.
"Lost Creek is part of what we consider economic development," Chairman Craig Fisher said. "It is an important part of bringing people here to recreate."
"We want to stress the recreational opportunities at Lost Creek not only for those outside our county, but for our residents," said Councilman Larry London.
"There a lot of people from Morgan who go up there to fish."
Under the agreement, the four partners will share recreation access, management and law enforcement responsibilities at the reservoir.
The shared responsibility will allow minimal public recreation access, promote visitor safety, and minimize the law enforcement burden on management partners.

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Thanks for the update icefool. The entire article had me excited that they weren't gonna close it down, then I read the last line or so "[size 1]The shared responsibility will allow minimal public recreation access,"... [/size][size 2]I wonder what that means? Hopefully it was a type-o![/size]
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Yes I was thinking the same thing. I hope that doesn't mean they are going to close it to ice fishing. It is my favorite place to ice fish.
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I sounds like it means they are going to keep doing what they have been doing, which in nothing. I know money is tight but they said years ago they were going to do some improvement to Lost creek, like camp grounds and other things that would make the area a better place to go. All they have done since then is put up that pay station. I think the local people don't want the area developed, so it will probably stay just like it is, at least for now. WH2
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Hopefully the access won't be limited, just the services.
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Technically there's only limited access to Lost Creek right now. According to the signs you're only allowed to be there between like 6 am and 10 pm. I don't know if they actually lock the gate at night(I doubt it), but a couple of years ago a sheriff came by at closing time and kicked everyone out. These days there's nobody there to collect money.
I don't think Lost Creek has a financial impact on morgan county, at least as far as tourist dollars. There's nowhere near the lake to buy food or beer.
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does anybody know if they charge to go up there????? i liked it when it was free and the roads where crappy and the lake was full and the fish where big and fat...
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Hey fishzman, I've been up to Lost Creek several times this year, and nobody's ever collected money. For a while they had a booth set up for a money collector, but nobody's ever been there. Now the booth is off the side of the road. There's still a box to pay a fee, but there is no fee posted. There are still nice fish in there if you get away from the more crowded areas.
Good luck.
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cool thanks
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