GRAND RIVERS, Ky. (July 6, 2012)—The first Lake Barkley Open House and public tours of the Barkley Power Plant and Lock in nearly 11 years were held June 23, and more tours are scheduled July 21, Aug. 18 and Sep. 15, 2012 with tours beginning at 9 and 11 a.m., and 2 p.m. Public access to these U.S. Army Corps of Engineers facilities had been restricted after September 11, 2001.
“From the very positive feedback we received from visitors, we know there is public interest in visiting our facilities and we look forward to upcoming tours to inform the public about the benefits these facilities provide to the nation,” Park Ranger Charlotte Stenger said.
Visitors ranging from those who were present when construction began here in the 1950’s to those visiting from New England expressed their pleasure for the opportunity to see and learn more about the missions of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Lake Barkley assets in particular, according to Mike Looney, Barkley’s resource manager.
“We want to thank you very much for such a wonderful tour of Lake Barkley’s Powerhouse, Lock and Natural Resource Management Office,” said Kathy Claxton of New Jersey. “We are glad to know more about the powerhouse and the lock’s critical necessity for transport over our waterways and we have a new sense of pride in our government and a renewed feeling of safety,” she added.
Tour size is limited and is on a first-come, first-serve basis. All guests including minors are required to submit a request form at least five days prior to the tour and receive an email confirmation from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District Security Office.
Registered guests will be required to check in at the Lake Barkley Natural Resources Management Office for a briefing prior to boarding a shuttle bus to the power plant and lock.
For more information, please call the Lake Barkley Resource Manager’s Office at (270) 362-4236.
The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District on the district’s website at
www.lrn.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps and on Twitter at
http://www.twitter.com/nashvillecorps. The public can also visit Lake Barkley’s Facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/lakebarkley.