Contractors with the Cherokee National Forest have completed maintenance at McCamy Lake and is beginning to refill. The speed of the refilling is heavily dependent on the amount of rainfall the area receives over the next 3-4 weeks.
The gate controls in the dam, which allow the lake level to be managed, were last fully repaired in 1993. To properly inspect the gate controls and sluice gate, which is located at the bottom of the dam, the lake had to be completely drained. Those inspections and repairs were completed.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is planning to restock the lake as soon as levels return to normal. Personnel on the Ocoee Ranger District have reclaimed sand that had washed into the lake, refreshing the beach and deepen the swim area. New swim ropes and buoys will also be installed once the lake is full.
This project was funded through the Great American Outdoors Act. The Great American Outdoors Act gave the USDA Forest Service new opportunities to deliver benefits to the American public through major investments in recreation infrastructure, public lands access, and land and water conservation. The new Legacy Restoration Fund will allow the Forest Service to improve critical infrastructure essential to use and enjoyment of national forests and grasslands. Improved Forest Service facilities attract visitors and improve visitor satisfaction, contributing to tourism and recreation-related economic activity in communities near national forests and grasslands.
For additional information please contact Jesse English, Recreation Program Manager, at (423) 476-9748, or [email protected].
