MOTTS RUN RESERVOIR USE POLICIES

PARK OPERATING HOURS 

APRIL 1 Through SEPTEMBER 30:		6:00 AM – 7:00pm
OCTOBER 1 Through OCTOBER 31:		7:00am - 7:00pm
NOVEMBER 1 through FEBRUARY 28:		CLOSED
MARCH 1 through March 31:		Weekends only, 6am-7pm

(Weather and Water Conditions Permitting)

(540) 786-8989

Use entrance to reservoir off River Road

A. GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS:

1. A City Resident is one who resides within the corporate City limits, works for the City, or owns a business or property within the City.
2. No wading, swimming, water-skiing or any other act that will affect the purity of the water shall be permitted.
3. Hours of operation will be from 6:00a.m. to sunset, unless otherwise designated for a special event.
4. The season for operation will be generally from April 1 through October 31, but may vary slightly depending on the weather.
5. Any person littering lake area shall be denied the privilege of area use and shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
6. The City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, and any of its officers or employees shall not be responsible for any personal injury or property damage.
7. Firearms, fireworks, and weapons of any kind are prohibited on City owned land.
8. Alcohol consumption is not permitted in Motts Run Park unless by State Permit.
9. Parking is permitted only in designated areas.
10. Camping on City owned land is not permitted.
11. Cutting trees, bushes and wild flowers is prohibited.
12. No person shall willfully mark, deface, injure, tamper with or displace or remove any building, bridge, table, bench, fireplace, railing, paving or paving material, water line, or other public utility or line or appurtenance thereof, sign, notice or placard, either temporary or permanent monument, stake, post or other boundary marker, or other structure or equipment facility, or park property of appurtenances whatsoever, either real or personal.
13. All persons shall cooperate in maintaining restrooms in a neat and sanitary condition.

B. RULES FOR BOATING AND FISHING:

1. For all boats, one Coast Guard approved life jacket is required for each person onboard. Rowing sculls and racing kayaks are exempt from the requirements for flotation devices.
2. All children up to fourteen (14) years of age shall wear life preservers at all times when in a boat on the lake.
3. No more than three (3) persons shall be permitted in a City owned boat.
4. Total weight of occupants, motor, and fish tackle shall not exceed the limits posted on the inside of the canoes and Jon boats which are rented by the park to include:
   
   (a) 14’-16’– 3 persons
   (b) 16’-17’ canoe – 2 persons
   
5. The following restrictions apply to all craft other than those rented by the Department of Parks, Recreation & Public Facilities:
    
   (a) Lake use is restricted to any commercially purchased vessel no longer than 16’, except for rowing sculls which are not restricted in length.
   
   (b) Inflatable water craft which meet all Coast Guard safety standards in effect for recreational boats, as stated on such craft, and which are 16’ or less in length, are permitted on the lake.Inflatable watercraft must have a minimum of three separate air chambers.
   
   (c) Boat occupancy shall not exceed manufacturer’s recommended levels – park attendant’s judgement shall rule if restrictions are not posted on craft.
   
   (d) Vessels not used for fishing are to minimize disruptions to anglers and should use the center portion of the lake when possible.
   
   (e) No styrofoam craft is permitted on the lake.
   
6. Each person will, at the request of department personnel, submit his or her fish catch forinspection.
7. Boats shall be rented with one set of oars, oarlocks, and a U.S. Coast Guard approved life preserver for each person.
8. No seines, nets, traps or other special devices will be permitted in the lake to take either game or non-game fish, except for official Recreation Commission or Department business.
9. No gasoline outboard motors are permitted to be operated on the lake.Boats with gas motors attached must place such motors in a non-operating position before being allowed use of the lake, except for the emergency boat owned by the Department.Inappropriate use of gas motors will result in a $50.00 fine, revocation of fishing permit, or both. (Department shall have small motor for patrol, rescue and emergencies.
10. Reckless boating or standing in boats will not be tolerated.Any offender shall be apprehended and removed from lake area and subject to the full penalties listed in violation section.
11. No animal is permitted in or on the lake at anytime, to include in a personal or city owned boat. Unleashed dogs are not permitted on the grounds at any time.
12. Persons under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a person of at least 18 years of age when renting, launching, occupying, or fishing from a boat, canoe or other watercraft..
13. No swimming from boat is permitted and arms and legs must be kept inside boat.
14. The use of electric motors no greater than 11 volts will be permitted on boats.
15. State of Virginia fishing regulations shall apply (Title 28.1 & Title 29).
16. A state fishing license is required by all persons 16 years of age and older, in order to fish in the lake, as provided in the Code of Virginia, Section 29-51 et seg.
17. All boats must be launched from the appropriate launch areas.No refunds will be issued due to the conditions of the water or changes in the weather.
18. Persons renting boats are liable for the loss of boats, oars, life preservers and motors, etc., until all equipment has been returned and boat officially checked in.
19. All boats must be returned to launch area within 30 minutes of time posted on the park Attendant’s building or the sound of horn—3 blasts on air horn.
20. Bank fishing is permitted only in areas designated.All persons intending to bank fish must be registered and cleared through the park attendant and have received a permit.
21. Youths 16 years and under and adults 60 years and older may fish without charge. There is no minimum length or creel limit for large mouth bass.
22. Minimum length for Northern Pike to be taken is 20”, with a creel limit of two(2) per day.
23. Creel limit for walleye is eight (8) per day.

C. RULES FOR PICNICKING:

1. Picnicking shall be confined to area designated for this purpose.
2. No person shall kindle, build, maintain or use a fire other than in grills provided or designated for such purpose. Any fire shall be continuously under the care and direction of a competent person over eighteen (18) years of age from the time it is kindled until it is extinguished. No person in the confines of Reservoir area owned by the City shall discard any lighted match, cigarette, cigar, or other burning object. Any burning object must be entirely extinguished before being discarded.
3. No open fires allowed.
4. Use of lake or any other bodies of water within the park or its tributaries, storm sewers, or drains flowing into them as dumping places for any substances or matter or thing which will or may result in the pollution of said water is prohibited.
5. No person will deposit, dump, drip or place any refuse including bottles, broken glass, ashes, paper, boxes, building products, cans, dirt, rubbish waste, garbage, tobacco products or container or foul upon the ground, or in or on, any park property, except into the receptacles provided for trash disposal.

D. PARK SUPERVISION

1. The Director of Parks, Recreation & Public Facilities and his designated employees shall be the official custodians of the lake and surrounding premises. It shall be their duty to enforce all ordinances, rules and regulations adopted by the City Council and all applicable state and federal laws and regulations, and shall be responsible for collecting all fees and properly accounting for them.
2. THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION & PUBLIC FACILITIES OR HIS DESIGNATED EMPLOYEES SHALL DENY PARK ACCESS OR USE BY ANY PERSON HAVING IN HIS OR HER POSSESSION, OR SHOWING EVIDENCE OF BEING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF, INTOXICATING BEVERAGES OR ANY CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, AS STATED IN ARTICLE 6.1 OR CHAPTER 15.1 OF TITLE 54 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA.
3. Rules and regulations will be posted conspicuously at all times, will be brought to the attention of all permit holders, and copies will be made available upon request.
4. All boats shall meet Coast Guard and State regulations and shall pass a safety inspection by the Park attendant and must also be satisfied that the person in charge of the boat is qualified to operate the boat.
5. Park hours and all other rules shall be set by the Recreation Commission and shall be posted in a conspicuous place around the boat launch area.There shall be no activity on the lake except as posted.
6. The Director of Parks, Recreation & Public Facilities shall have the authority to close any area or the entire area in case of emergency or when conditions of the water or park area would endanger the safety of park users. Emergencies are to be determined in the judgment of the Director.

E. VIOLATIONS: Violators of rules and regulations shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and may also lose lake privileges for a period of 60 to 90 days.

F.PUBLIC SAFETY CALL FROM MOTTS RUN RESERVOIR: The following emergency procedure will be conspicuously posted, and will only be superseded by this office:

1. In a non-emergency, Motts Run Reservoir personnel will contact as appropriate:

          City Police:373-3122

          City Fire:372-1059

          Rescue Squad:Via City Fire:372-3264

2. In a real emergency situation, Motts Run Reservoir personnel will call:

           911

3. Should the Motts Run Reservoir personnel find it necessary to contact a dog warden, they will contact:

            Spotsylvania Dog Warden:891-1329

G. COMMERCIAL USE POLICY: Any person wishing to use Motts Run Reservoir Park for commercial classes or activities must first have permission to do so from the Director of Parks, Recreation and Public Facilities.

Commercial use of the Park is subject to the following conditions:

1. If renting park-owned vessels, one must pay the associated rental cost of the vessels plus a launch fee for each vessel regardless of the residency of the operator.