Workshop Set For Cordell Hull Lake Plan Revisions

Planned revisions to the Cordell Hull Lake Master Plan will not alter changes to water control or shoreline management and leases along the impoundment of its stretch of the Cumberland River, near Carthage, Tenn.

Future recommended land uses, recreational objectives and development needs will be considered, however, at a public workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. December 10 at the Cordell Hull Lake Resource Manager’s Office, 71 Corps Lane, Carthage, Tenn. 37030. Staff will also be available from noon to 4 p.m. that day to discuss changes and receive comments about plan revisions.

The Nashville Engineer District is updating the lake’s master plan for the first time since 1968. The plan was created during the lake’s impoundment. Construction on the lock and dam began in 1963 and was completed in 1973. Cordell Hull Lake encompasses approximately 67.3 miles of the Cumberland River to Celina, Tenn. Major tributaries to the Cumberland River within Cordell Hull Lake pool include the Obey and Roaring rivers. The Corps constructed the reservoir for navigation, hydroelectric power and recreation.

“The most significant changes to the master plan include a land and water classification guideline to administer project lands and water for their intended purposes and use designated by the master plan,” said Lee Roberts, public affairs specialist for the Corps’ Nashville district.

Information provided by the Corps shows objectives for the plan that include balancing economic and environmental interests; preserving cultural resources, such as sites of historic or archeological significance; managing natural resources; and evaluating demand for commercial and recreational facilities.

A list of significant changes includes:

• increased outgranting for non-Corps entities willing and able to assume responsibility for operating and maintaining existing public recreation facilities or development of new facilities that meet or exceed Corps standards;

• instituting a “Clean Marina” designation to recognize marinas for exceeding regulatory requirements by voluntarily incorporating higher environmental standards into daily operations;

• establishment of a recreation development policy with guidance to evaluate requests for recreation development at Corps water resources while sustaining natural resources;

• creation of a non-recreational outgrant policy for real estate outgrant requests for use of civil works lands and waters;

• establishment of environmentally sensitive areas; and

• development of policies concerning a growing variety of outdoor activities, acknowledging that recent years have brought about increases in paddlesports, metal detecting and drone usage, among others.

Resource manager Mark Herd said the workshop gives the public an opportunity to review the elements that make up the Master Plan and provide comments. There will be no formal presentation, so interested parties may stop by any time during the workshop hours. A link to the draft copy of the revised Master Plan and Environmental Assessment can be viewed prior to the public events by visiting https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16021coll7/id/6252 and will also be available for review the day of the public workshops.  

The public can request a copy of the documents by emailing a request to CordellHullLake@usace.army.mil. Written comments and requests will be accepted at the workshop or may be emailed to CordellHullLake@usace.army.mil or mailed to the Cordell Hull Lake Resource Manager’s Office at 71 Corps Lane, Carthage, Tenn. 37030.  All comments and requests must be received by the resource manager’s office no later than Friday, January 10, 2020, to be considered.