Alerts at John H. Kerr Reservoir

Once every month the catwalk area at Tailrace Park is closed for routine maintenance and cleaning. From March 2025 through October 2025 the catwalk will be closed on the third Tuesday of every month for cleaning. The catwalk area will reopen after cleaning and maintenance has concluded. 2025 dates for cleaning include: March 18th, April 15th, May 20th, June 17th, July 15th, August 19th, September 16th, October 21st. Questions please call the Visitor Assistance Center at 434.738.6143.

John H. Kerr Dam & Reservoir Selected as a 2025 Leave No Trace Spotlight—1 of 19 Sites, Nationwide, Chosen for Community Conservation Initiative

March 11, 2025, John H. Kerr Dam & Reservoir: The Leave No Trace organization has selected John H. Kerr Dam & Reservoir as a 2025 Spotlight site. As outdoor areas nationwide are being impacted by record use, this new initiative from Leave No Trace shines a light on communities rising to meet this challenge with multi-day, onsite education, and restoration initiatives. From May 15^th through May 17th, Leave No Trace will be at Kerr Reservoir with staff and rangers from John H. Kerr Dam & Reservoir, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to work with the community and local land agencies to deliver Leave No Trace education as well as to partner on restoration and stewardship projects.

Local land agencies or community groups nominate sites for the Leave No Trace Spotlight initiative. The sites chosen in 2025 span the country, each with unique environmental challenges. The initiative aims to equip each Spotlight area with relevant Leave No Trace tools that address the site's impacts and foster healthy lands and people.

“The Spotlight program is an amazing way to highlight the power of a community and the steps they can take to protect the outdoor areas they love,” states Dana Watts, the Executive Director of Leave No Trace. “This program puts conservation into action and the 3-day Spotlight led by Leave No Trace staff, focuses on workshops, Leave No Trace education, and community engagement to ensure that every Spotlight host is left with the tools necessary to continue to protect and conserve the areas around them.”

Sidney Burke the President of the Southern Piedmont Master Naturalist Chapter (co-host organization for Leave No Trace Spotlight event) states “we’re thrilled to help host a Leave No Trace Spotlight event at John H. Kerr Dam & Reservoir, bringing our community together to protect and preserve this beautiful natural resource. It’s an opportunity to make a lasting impact, educate others on sustainable outdoor practices, and ensure future generations can enjoy this incredible landscape. The event will help educate, encourage, and make a positive impact on our community and trails.”

The following events are free and open to the public, and we encourage people of all ages to attend. For more information visit https://lnt.org/event/leave-no-trace-spotlight-john-h-kerr-dam-and-reservoir/

Friday, May 16th: Leave No Trace Youth Program: Calling all youth! Join the Leave No Trace Team, Southern Piedmont Master Naturalist Chapter, and John H. Kerr Reservoir Park Rangers from 10AM to 12PM for a fun, structured program where youth participants will rotate through three different stations all focused on Leave No Trace. Youth Program will be at the Joseph S.J. Tanner Environmental Education Center (5164 Buggs Island Rd., Boydton, VA 23917).

Friday, May 16th: Leave No Trace Trivia Night at Buggs Island Brewing: Join the Leave No Trace Team and Southern Piedmont Master Naturalist Chapter at Buggs Island Brewery (101 2^nd St., Clarksville, VA 23927) beginning at 5:30 PM for a fun night of Leave No Trace themed trivia. Prizes will be awarded.  

Saturday, May 17th: Stewardship Volunteer Project – Munford Trail Workday: Join us at the Eagle Point Boat Ramp (5371 Taylor Ferry Road, Boydton, VA 23917) from 9AM to 12PM for a trail workday focused on trail improvements and Leave No Trace. For more information contact Will Daniel at 434.738.6143 ext. 6150.

• Facebook: @LeaveNoTraceCenter
• Instagram: @LeaveNoTraceOrg 
• LinkedIn: @LeaveNoTrace
• Facebook: @JohnHKerrReservoirBuggsIslandLake
• Facebook: @Southern-Piedmont-Master-Naturalists

For media inquiries, please contact:

Emily Jones
Outreach Park Ranger
John H. Kerr Dam & Reservoir
https://www.saw.usace.army.mil/Locations/District-Lakes-and-Dams/John-H-Kerr/
434.738.6143 ext. 6171
Emily.A.Jones@usace.army.mil

The Environmental Education Center is closed from September 3, 2024 through March 31, 2025 for building improvements and upgrades. These dates are subject to change. John H. Kerr Rangers are continuing to facilitate interpretive programs and host field trips, but no field trips can occur at the Joseph S.J. Tanner Environmental Education Center during this time. If you are a teacher, community group, or organization interested in an interpretive (educational) program during this period of time please call Ranger Emily Jones at 434.738.6143 ext. 6171. Currently, the Joseph S.J. Tanner Center is scheduled to resume normal summer operation hours beginning April 5, 2025. 

BOYDTON, V.A. – What is a prescribed burn? A prescribed burn is a planned fire, conducted by trained professionals, used to achieve specific natural resource objectives. Many types of plants and wildlife need fire to survive. Periodic fire stimulates growth, helps reproduction of plants, provides wildlife habitat, and ensures healthier natural areas around the lake. The US Army Corps of Engineers conducts prescribed burns each year between the months of December and April. The burns are carried out on large portions of natural areas around the lake including: Wildlife Management Areas, timber tracts, and recreational sites. Safety is the number one concern during all prescribed burns. Well before a match is struck, the burn team considers the safety of people, property, and the natural areas they are managing. Safety considerations and preparations include:

• Burn Plan: a detailed plan is created for each specific burn that includes the burn objectives, plans for fire and smoke control, acceptable weather conditions, equipment and personnel needs, and contingencies for changing conditions.
• Firebreak Construction: wide corridors of cleared land that are free of burnable material are created around each burn area, ensuring that the fire does not leave the designated burn site.
• Smoke Management: prescribed burns are conducted only when conditions will minimize the amount of smoke produced and its effect on people.
• Certified Fire Team: all the prescribed burns by the US Army Corps of Engineers at the John H. Kerr Reservoir are conducted by trained professionals, certified by both North Carolina and Virginia Forest Service agencies. 

The natural resource managers with the US Army Corps of Engineers conduct prescribed burns for a number of reasons. Prescribed burns help to reduce the hazardous buildup of vegetation, known as fuel, which if left unchecked could lead to a devastating wildfire that would threaten the local communities. Furthermore, many plant and animal species need fire to thrive. Prescribed burns help reduce competition, release seeds, add precious nutrients into the soil, and promotes beneficial plant species that attract wildlife. Prescribed burns also play a large role in forest management where they are used for understory control, disease containment, and site preparation. The following sites are scheduled to be burned during the 2024 prescribed burn season. This list is subject to change based on weather and site conditions:

As members of the public who enjoy the John H. Kerr Reservoir, the US Army Corps of Engineers hope you recognize the importance of prescribed burning as a necessary tool used to protect you and your community and improve ecosystem health in the natural areas around the lake. Thank you for your understanding during the prescribed burn season. For additional information please contact the Visitor Assistance Center at 434.738.6143 x 6159.

• 1 November 2024 - 16 March 2025
• Campsites 78 – 103 open with electricity $20/Night
• Campsite 93 – Double site $40/Night
• Camping equipment must be on the campsite at all times to indicate the site is occupied.
• One bathhouse is available with hot water and heat.
• No water hookups at site!
• Potable water is available at the Dump Station.
• Cash not accepted.
• Boat Ramp/DUA – Free for campers.