The Henry County Water Authority’s 2020 public fishing season is underway.
The Tussahaw and Upper Towaliga reservoirs opened to local anglers March 1. Out of five HCWA drinking water reservoirs, which are protected natural resources totaling approximately 18 billion gallons of raw water storage, those two are available for public access from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 29.
To access the Tussahaw and Upper Towaliga reservoirs for fishing, boating (with electric trolling motors only), canoeing and kayaking, a citizen must purchase an HCWA Reservoir Use Permit for $45 at the HCWA headquarters, 1695 Highway 20 West in McDonough, during normal office hours between 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Discounts are available for seniors age 62 and older, as well as citizens with disabilities.
Eligible permit holders include HCWA customers, Henry County residents and Henry County property owners. Permits are valid for one full calendar year from the date of purchase, and a permit holder can bring a guest at no additional charge. There are more than 1,300 active permits right now. Utilizing the reservoirs also requires a waiver/release form and a valid Georgia fishing license, and customers must adhere to all rules and regulations governing the use of HCWA reservoirs and Georgia public waters.
Public access to the Tussahaw Reservoir – which has a boat ramp and accommodations for citizens with disabilities – is available through the public use area on Tussahaw Island, at the end of Collins Way off Peeksville Road. The Upper Towaliga Reservoir can be accessed at 160 Hunter Road in Locust Grove, off Weems Road, coming from Hampton-Locust Grove Road.
The Tussahaw and Upper Towaliga are the two largest of the five HCWA reservoirs, accounting for more than 85 percent of the Authority’s raw water storage capacity. The 1,466-acre Tussahaw Reservoir, with 9.78 billion gallons of storage at full pool, is the newest of the HCWA reservoirs, opening in 2007. The 1,100-acre Upper Towaliga Reservoir, with 6 billion gallons of storage at full pool, also bears the name of former HCWA Board Member Ed Cole, since the Authority dedicated this reservoir in his honor.
These HCWA reservoirs are protected natural resources, operating according to more stringent regulatory standards than recreational lakes. However, that makes for ideal fishing conditions, according to Authority officials.
For more information on HCWA public fishing, including maps of boat ramps and access points for these two reservoirs, contact the Cubihatcha Center staff at 678-583-3930 or visit www.hcwa.com/community-education/fishing-and-reservoir-use.
