Update: Hard Labor Creek Reservoir opens to public Friday morning

Update

There will be an official ribbon cutting ceremony at Hard Labor Creek Reservoir at 11 a.m. tomorrow, March 9, 2018. After that, the park will be open to the public. There is no charge for anyone attending the ribbon cutting ceremony, however, if you want to stay and fish or enjoy the outdoor facility, you will have to either have, or purchase, a parking permit.

“People who come for the ceremony will not have to pay, but anyone who stays after the ceremony will need to purchase a parking pass,” said Diane Baggett, public information officer for Walton County Board of Commissioners. She said many people had already purchased the $60 or $75 annual pass for the 2018 calendar year, but if anybody has not yet purchased it from the Walton County Water Authority, they can purchase a daily pass just for Friday. “There is a kiosk there and  anybody who wants to stay, and has not yet purchased an annual pass, can pay for the day.”

The daily rate is $10 per vehicle. Click or tap on this link for rules and regulations governing fishing from Hard Labor Creek.

The following is information for anybody from the public who wishes to attend the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and get a first look at the recreation area and boat dock.

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony at Hard Labor Creek Reservoir

 

WHAT:             Ribbon–Cutting Ceremony to officially open Hard Labor Creek Reservoir to the public; the reservoir will be open for fishing immediately following the ceremony.

 

WHEN:              Friday, March 9, 2018, at 11 a.m.

 

WHO:                 Walton County Chairman Kevin Little – Vice Chairman of the Hard Labor Creek Regional Reservoir Management Board

                             Oconee County Chairman Mark Saxon – Chairman of the Hard Labor Creek Regional Reservoir Management Board

 

                               Chairman of the Walton County Water and Sewerage Authority Brad Johnson

 

                              Hard Labor Creek Regional Reservoir Management Board

                        

                              Walton Chamber of Commerce

 

WHERE:           Hard Labor Creek Reservoir, 310 Social Circle-Fairplay Road, Social Circle

 

Initial story

A fee schedule for Hard Labor Creek was approved Tuesday by the Walton County Board of Commissioners, paving the way for the reservoir to finally be open to the public following a ribbon cutting on Friday, March 9, 2018. The amended rates were set by the Hard Labor Creek Reservoir Management Board on Monday and ratified on Tuesday by the Walton County Board of Commissioners.

The fee schedule approved was:

$10 for a daily pass

$60 for a yearly pass for Walton and Oconee residents

$75 for a yearly pass for all others

The will not be permits required for people walking to fishing sites, but there will be a $100 fine for vehicles that do not have a permit.

Permits will be sold at the Walton County Sewage Department starting tomorrow, Wednesday, March 7, 2018, and the the ribbon cutting is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday. After that, anglers are invited to test the waters at the lake. Happy fishing!