It Won't Be Long Now

That's how my friend, Jerry, began his email to me yesterday, along with attaching the photos that I'm using with this story, which describes Phase 1 improvements to the Lake Lawson/Lake Smith Natural Area.

This area is a 42-acre preserve, with more than 12,000 feet of shoreline located in the Bayside Borough of Virginia Beach, at the corner of Shell Road and Northampton Boulevard. The property was acquired in multiple parcels between 2005 and 2009, through the Open Space Acquisition Program, from the City of Norfolk and private landowners.

The current improvements began in fall 2013 and are scheduled to be completed in early fall 2014. Items included in Phase 1 are as follows:

     * New boat ramp
     * Formalized car and trailer parking
     * Stabilization along the shoreline to prevent erosion and to reestablish native vegetation
     * Several fishing and overlook platforms
     * Floating crew dock
     * Pedestrian bridge to connect the north and south parcel
     * Renovations to the existing soft-surface trail with installation of hard-surface trails
     * New playground and picnic shelter

Future improvements also will include the installation of a park office and restrooms.

Though the natural area surrounding Lake Lawson and Lake Smith is being improved by the City of Virginia Beach, the City of Norfolk still owns the water/reservoir and 25 feet around the water. As such, Norfolk currently controls the use of water regulations, including the requirement for a boat permit to use the water.

Boating

     * Motorized and non-motorized boating is permitted.
     * Motors no larger than 12 H.P. may be used. If a boat with a larger motor is put in the reservoir, the larger motor must the disabled.
     * All boats, including canoes, kayaks and paddleboats (e.g., paddle wheelers), must have a valid City of Norfolk Boat Permit. The reservoirs of Lake Smith/Lake Lawson are governed by the City of Norfolk.
     * Swimming and the use of stand-up paddle boards, sailboats, water skis, jet skis, tubes, rafts, and other inflatables are prohibited.
     * All boats must comply with Virginia and U.S. Coast Guard boating regulations.
     * Anyone under the age of 12 must be with an adult.
     * Average water depth of Lake Smith and Lake Lawson is about 4.5 feet, with a maximum depth of about 8 feet.

Fishing

     * Fishing is permitted from shore at designated areas: Lake Prince, Lake Smith, and in the Norfolk Botanical Garden. Boat fishing is permitted at designated areas with a boat permit.
     * Fishing maps can be found at http://www.Norfolk.gov.
     * A Virginia freshwater fishing license is required.
     * Net fishing is not permitted--rod and tackle only.
     * Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries regulations apply.

My friend, Jerry, for one, is looking forward to the grand reopening of Lake Smith. "I'm sure I'll be doing some trolling-motor-only fishing there next spring," he said.

For more information, call the Parks and Natural Areas at 757-385-0400, or email them at fun@VBgov.com.

As of Friday morning, Sept. 26, Jerry says he happened to get a few words with the engineer in charge of this project this morning and learned that the tentative opening date is Saturday, Oct. 4, if all goes well.