Wappapello closing two beaches

WAPPAPELLO LAKE, Mo. -- For the second year, Wappapello Lake will close two of its three beaches more than a month early for budget-related reasons.

Public beaches at Rockwood Point and Redman Creek will close Monday. Peoples Creek Beach will remain open until Sept. 9. Boat ramps also will remain open.

Wappapello Lake needs a budget of $4.8 million annually to operate at normal service levels, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project manager Cindy Jackson said. The project expects funding to fall about $1 million short of that this budget year.

It has operated on a continuous resolution since the October start of the current budget year, receiving funding in monthly distributions.

"We had to reduce some things," Jackson said.

Closing the two beaches, while keeping the largest beach open, allows the project to save money on maintenance costs, while still providing a service to the public, she said. Beach maintenance includes weekly monitoring of water quality, cleaning, safety inspections and a contractor to care for buoys.

"Because of safety, we can't let people swim there," said Jackson, adding Wappapello's schedule was first made public in the spring.

Other cuts also have been made, and in areas Jackson believes the public may not realize. Vehicles were given up, students were not hired to help with duties during the summer and volunteers help with many cleaning duties, as examples.

Wappapello Lake receives its money from the Mississippi Rivers and Tributaries Project fund, because the St. Francis River feeds into the Mississippi River. Other St. Louis District lakes are paid from the operations and maintenance fund.

The two funds receive separate appropriations from Congress. Lakes funded by operations and maintenance have been receiving money by the quarter.

Clearwater Lake, which is in the Little Rock District, receives biweekly disbursements of money. Budget reductions have been limited to internal adjustments, said Fred Esser, deputy project operations manager. Some maintenance that is not urgent is being delayed, Esser said.

Esser said it is difficult to predict how much the annual budget for Clearwater will be because of the way funds are dispersed.

For more information regarding the recreational facilities or other topics, contact the Wappapello Lake Management Office at 573-222-8562. For 24-hour lake information, call the Recreation Hotline at 573-222-8139 or toll-free at 573-525-3463.

Pertinent address:

Wappapello Lake, Mo.