ROCKINGHAM — A state agency is seeking public input before making a determination regarding use of a local recreation area.
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission announced in a press release last week that it is proposing to “designate an area on the Pee Dee River game land along the shoreline of Blewett Falls Lake as a ‘Day Use Only Zone.’”
According to the release, the designation would prohibit the public from using the selected area between sunset and sunrise.
The current proposed area is a small strip of shoreline — about 300 to 400 yards long — on the Richmond County side of the lake, across from the Anson County boat landing.
Chris Dawes, Piedmont Eco-Region supervisor with the NCWRC, said the proposal came about after complaints from private landowners whose property is near the shoreline about late-night noise and trash being left on the shore.
He said they often see the leftover litter when they walk to try and enjoy the area themselves, and report it.
Dawes said littering is a problem with other areas along the lake that can constitute a public safety risk, especially broken glass in the sand.
“A few people that don’t follow the rules…make it tough for everybody else,” he said.
Dawes said there are not currently any day-use-only areas along the lake, but signs have been posted near the proposed area. There are also no rules on the books for state Wildlife officers to enforce complaints.
The new regulation would only apply to the area of shoreline designated, and Dawes said those who use the lake for recreation would still have other areas more isolated to go to.
He added that the rule would not be enforceable until after the Commission makes a decision in July.
The Commission will hold a public meeting and take comments regarding the proposal from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Richmond County administration building.
Dawes said the Commission will have maps of a larger scale at the meeting.
For more information, call the Commission’s Land and Water Access Section at 919-707-0367.
Reach William R. Toler at 910-817-2675 and follow him on Twitter @William_r_toler.