Enid Lake prepares for spring recreation

By Enid Lake Park Ranger
Waste Management annual Clean Up Day
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Volunteers for Waste Management reminds everyone of Enid Lake’s annual Clean Up Day.  
The event will be held on Saturday, February 27 beginning at 7 a.m. Volunteers may meet at one of the following locations the morning of the event: Enid Lake Field Office, Chickasaw Hill Boat Ramp or Dunn’s Country Store.
All volunteers will be required to wear an approved Department of Transportation (DOT) helmet while operating ATV’s/UTV’s during Clean Up Day Activities.
The staff at Enid Lake and the Volunteers for Waste Management invite and encourage everyone to pitch in and help clean and maintain Enid Lake’s beauty.  
Since Conception in 2004, Enid Lake Volunteers for Waste Management’s Clean Up Day has been directly responsible for picking up over 833 compacted cubic yards of trash and debris, and removal of 709 tires from the shoreline and roadways of Enid Lake.
For more information on Clean Up Day at Enid lake, contact the Enid Lake Field Office at 662-563-4571.
ENID LAKE RECREATION SEASON
On March 1, all campgrounds will open at Enid Lake. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Enid Lake operates 5 Class A and 2 Class C campgrounds. The 5 Class A campgrounds include: Wallace Creek, Persimmon Hill, Chickasaw Hill, Ford’s Well, and Water Valley Boat Landing.
These Campgrounds offer a RV pad at each site with water and electrical hook ups, and a dump station is located at the entrance of each campground. All Class A campgrounds have comfort stations, shower houses, playgrounds, and a boat ramp, with the exception of Ford’s Well not having a boat ramp.
Camping fees are $18 a night in Wallace Creek and Persimmon Hill, and $15 a night at Chickasaw Hill, Ford’s Well, and Water Valley Landing Campgrounds. Ford’s Well, which is a wrangler campground, offers RV camping. Each site has water and electrical hook ups, and a dump station is located in the campground.
Other amenities include: a comfort station, picnic sites, a large picnic shelter, a playground, and a gazebo. Class C campgrounds include: Plum Point and Long Branch. These campgrounds are primitive areas, but offer potable water, comfort stations, a playground, and a boat ramp. Camping fees for Class C campsites are $6 a night.
Campsites in Class A campgrounds can be reserved through the National Recreation Reservation System (NRRS) by calling toll free 1-877-444-6777. You can also reserve sites in these areas by logging onto the NRRS website at RECREATION.gov.  Campsites at Ford’s Well Campground are not part of the National Recreation Reservation System. Campsites at Ford’s Well Campground are all first come first serve.
Enid Lake personnel remind all anglers and boating enthusiasts there is a $5 boat launching fee at designated boat launching ramps excluding: Bynum, Plum Point and Point Pleasant Recreation Areas.  Enid Lake also has five designated swimming beaches, which are scheduled to open for use on April 1st and require a day use fee.
ANNUAL PASSES AND PASSPORT PROGRAMS
Annual passes allow visitors to launch a boat or use designated swim beaches without having to pay every time they utilize these facilities. The Annual Pass can be purchased from any Corps of Engineers Field Office for $40. Annual Passes are valid for one year from date of purchase.
Enid Lake Personnel would like to remind visitors that Golden Age and Golden Access Passports are accepted at Enid Lake, but no longer can be purchased. The America the Beautiful Passports are also accepted and sold at Enid Lake. These passports allow campers and visitors half price on camping fees. Visitors interested in acquiring information about passport programs may contact the Enid Lake Field Office at 662-563-4571.
Picnic Shelter Reservations
There are 15 large Picnic Shelters/Pavilions, which are available for reservations. These shelters are great for large crowds, and are located at Wallace Creek, Persimmon Hill, Outlet Channel, Riverview, Ford’s Well, Water Valley Landing, and Chickasaw Hill Recreation Areas.
Amenities include: picnic tables, electricity, potable water, lights, grills, and service tables. Shelters may be reserved by calling the Enid Lake Field Office at 662-563-4571 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The cost of reserving a shelter is $50 a day and they are available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. of the reserved date.
Day Use Fee and Passport Programs Revisions
Effective January 1, 2016 annual passes are $40; beach fee: $5 per private non-commercial vehicle; and $20 per bus or commercial vehicle.
Children under the age of 16 are admitted free.
Boat launching fee is $5.
 America the Beautiful Interagency Passes including: Interagency Annual Pass – $80, Annual Military Pass – Free, Senior Pass – $10, Access Pass – Free, Volunteer Pass – Free, and Every Kid in a Park (EKIP) Pass – Free are now available at Enid Lake.
Please contact the Enid Lake Field Office regarding the America the Beautiful Passport program.
For more information on Enid Lake Volunteer Events or Recreational Opportunities please contact the Enid Lake Field Office at 662-563-4571 or visit us at our website at http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/EnidLake.aspx.