MORGANTOWN – When it comes to recreation, the 125-acre Flegal Reservoir site off Cobun Creek Road is in a state of limbo.
There is still work to be done on the trails surrounding the 370-million gallon reservoir, and neither BOPARC or the city of Morgantown have officially declared the site open for public access.
“At this time, the trails remain under construction and have not yet been officially opened to the public. The rough-in of the main [trail] loop was completed in December, and while the trail is currently navigable, it has not been formally designated as open. Comprehensive signage has not yet been installed, and only limited signage is currently in place,” BOPARC Executive Director Greg Travinski said. “The contractor is scheduled to return to the site in April to begin finish work on the main loop, as well as construction of the secondary loop trails. The project remains on schedule for completion by the end of the summer.”
That said, the reservoir has already been listed as an available fishing location by the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, which has undertaken a multi-year fish stocking program for the manmade lake.
The fact of the matter, a DNR representative said last fall, is that building a lake 10 minutes from downtown Morgantown is going to draw people, whether or not you’ve formally declared the site open to the public.
And BOPARC is under no illusion that the site isn’t being accessed for fishing and other uses. There’s been ample evidence to the contrary.
“While we are not actively encouraging public use prior to project completion, we recognize that a site of this nature and scale may still experience some level of informal use,” Travinski said.
In terms of its primary use as a drinking water source, the Morgantown Utility Board-owned Flegal Reservoir has been functioning as intended since 2023.
An agreement between the city, MUB and BOPARC designating the site as a community recreation amenity notes MUB will operate the dam and reservoir as facilities of its waterworks system and ensure the facilities and water quality remain viable for the intended purpose. The city financed the recreational improvements and BOPARC will operate, manage and maintain those improvements once complete and open for public use.
“BOPARC is currently developing operational plans for the site, including routine trail inspections and maintenance such as trash collection,” Travinski said. “While there will not be permanent on-site staffing, we anticipate beginning regular staff presence the week of April 6.”
Travinski went on to say BOPARC and city officials are finalizing memorandums of understanding this week to further clarify responsibilities, “and ensure a coordinated approach to the long-term success of the Flegal project.”
In terms of fishing, live bait is prohibited and there is no fishing access from the dam facility. All motorized boats and other motorized vehicles are off limits on the property outside of designated parking areas. Non-motorized boats will be permitted on the water, but not within 100 feet of the water intake tower.
Hunting, trapping and similar activities are not permitted on the property.
