AmerenUE has announced that, beginning Feb. 1, the lower reservoir and campground at its Taum Sauk hydroelectric plant will reopen for limited public use from 7 a.m. Friday until 7 p.m. Sunday. The areas will remain closed at all other times.
The lower reservoir access and campground are located on Reynolds County Route 204 about seven miles north of Lesterville, Mo. They can be reached from Missouri Route 21-72 south of Arcadia by taking Route AA to Iron County Route 204, which connects to Reynolds County Route 204. From Lesterville, take Reynolds County Route U north to Route 204.
Recreational opportunities at the facilities include boating, fishing and primitive camping. Vault toilets are available, but there are no electrical hookups, water or sewer services for campers.
AmerenUE notes that special usage restrictions will be in effect for the lower reservoir.
· No swimming or waterskiing is allowed.
· Boats with motors above 10 horsepower are restricted to idle or “no wake” speed.
· Special fish catch limits apply—check state regulations for Taum Sauk Reservoir.
In addition, no all terrain vehicles, fireworks, shooting or hunting is allowed in the area that is being reopened.
“We’re pleased that we can reopen these facilities for limited public use, but visitors should be aware that there will be considerable traffic on roadways in the area due to reconstruction of the plant’s upper reservoir,” says Dave Fitzgerald, manager of the Taum Sauk Plant. “In addition, we want anglers to be aware that they will likely have limited success, because the lake has not yet been stocked with fish. A fish restocking plan is being developed, and we hope to begin restocking in the coming spring.”
Fitzgerald adds that the Taum Sauk Plant visitors center, upper reservoir, and the power plant itself remain closed to the public.
Information about AmerenUE’s project to rebuild the Taum Sauk upper reservoir, which breached in December 2005, is available on the Ameren Web site at www.ameren.com/taumsauk/. The Web site also provides updates on the restoration of Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park and other information about the area.
AmerenUE is a subsidiary of St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation. The Ameren companies serve 2.4 million electric customers and nearly one million natural gas customers in a 64,000-square-mile area of Missouri and Illinois.
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CONTACT: Mike Cleary, +1-573-681-7137, mcleary@ameren.com