$2 million sought to refill Ocmulgee fishing area

ATLANTA -- A bond of just over $2 million now in front of the state Legislature could reopen the Ocmulgee Public Fishing Area by late 2017.

The former 106-acre lake just north of Hawkinsville closed in 2012 when the water drained out of it.

The state Department of Natural Resources says the lake will require a liner topped with nonporous clay over part of the lake bed.

“We’re going to have to move a lot of dirt,” said Dan Forster, director of the DNR’s Wildlife Resources Division, after an informal Thursday presentation to a state House of Representatives panel.

“Even though all prior engineering said it’s a great site for lake construction, there was -- because of the severe drought -- a lowering of the aquifer. ... The topography and the geographic site basically created a drain situation,” Forster said.

The water percolated into the dry ground around and under it, so there is not one single hole to plug, officials said.

“This is an important benefit to sportsmen of Middle Georgia that hasn’t been available for years now. ... It’s highly used by handicapped sportsmen,” said state Rep. Bubber Epps, R-Dry Branch. He asked his colleagues on the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee to take a close look at it.

The money forms part of an $800 million bond package proposed by Gov. Nathan Deal in the fiscal 2016 state budget.

From bond approval to fishing will take about 18 months, said Forster, including the time to stock the lake with small fry and maybe pull more mature fish from elsewhere.

That would happen if the bond survives budget negotiations, which will finish in March or April.

To contact writer Maggie Lee, e-mail mlee@macon.com.

This story was originally published January 29, 2015 at 4:38 PM with the headline "$2 million sought to refill Ocmulgee fishing area ."