Lake Manassas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Manassas |
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Aerial view of Lake Manassas
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 Lake Manassas
Location in Virginia
Lake Manassas
Location in the United States
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| Location | Prince William County, Virginia, United States |
| Coordinates | 38°46′21″N 77°38′47″W / 38.77250°N 77.64639°W |
| Surface area | 770 acres (310 ha) |
Lake Manassas is a large reservoir (a man-made lake) in Prince William County, Virginia. It covers about 770 acres, which is like 580 football fields! The city of Manassas, Virginia owns and takes care of the lake.
Lake Manassas was built in the late 1960s. It started working in 1970. Its main job is to provide clean drinking water for people living in Manassas, Manassas Park, Virginia, and parts of Prince William County. You can also find several golf courses, like Stonewall Golf Club, along the lake's edges.
Contents
Why Public Access to the Lake Changed
For some years, people could visit Lake Manassas. They used a private place called a marina to get onto the water. This was possible from the 1980s until 1995.
The Marina Closes
In 1999, the agreement between the marina and the City of Manassas ended. They could not agree on a new plan. Because of this, the marina closed down. After that, people could no longer use their boats on Lake Manassas.
New Rules for the Lake
In 2004, the leaders of Manassas City made a new rule. It became against the law to use a boat on Lake Manassas. This rule was made to keep the drinking water safe. They were also worried about tiny creatures called Zebra Mussels. These mussels can cause big problems for water systems.
Over the years, many groups have tried to open the lake for public use again. These groups include the city, the county, and others. But as of 2012, none of these efforts have worked. The lake remains closed to public boating.
Efforts to Reopen the Lake
In 2010, a company building homes near Lake Manassas made an offer. They wanted to give 25 acres of their land to the City of Manassas. This land was meant to be used for a new marina.
A Plan for a New Marina
In June 2010, some experts presented a plan. People from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and George Mason University helped create it. Their idea was to use the donated land for a marina. However, the city leaders never decided if they would accept this plan. They were still worried about how much it would cost to run the marina. They also wanted to make sure the drinking water supply would stay safe.
Legal Action Over Access
The company that offered the land decided to take legal action. They wanted the city to allow residents to use the lake. They paused their legal case to try and talk things out first. But when the city did not act on the 2010 plan, the company went back to court. In February 2011, a court ruling allowed the case to move forward. However, a trial date was not set at that time.
Fish in Lake Manassas
Lake Manassas is known for its great fishing. It is considered one of the best places in the area for catching bass and crappie. Before the lake was closed to the public, new fish were often added to it.
