Possibly open the Park Friday, May 15 with restrictions

Hello,

Praying you all are staying healthy and practicing all the guidelines for COVID-19.

As I'm sure most of you probably saw today, Governor Northam's update about campgrounds. Governor Northam said he was intending to open the campgrounds on Friday, May 15 but with restrictions that we have been (hopefully) practicing. Now keep in mind, if the confirmed cases of COVID-19 go up before next Friday, he could change the decision to open the campgrounds May 15. Say your prayers that doesn't happen.

With the possibility of the campground opening on May 15, the water will be tested Monday and Tuesday (May 11-12); the tests will then be sent to the VDH in Richmond; and then we wait for the test results. With that said, the water WILL NOT and CANNOT be turned on UNTIL we get the green light that the water test were ALL GOOD from VDH. That could take a week or so. We have no control over their schedule. Please be patient.

If the water tests come back approved, the water will be turned on. You will be allowed to use the water spigots and the dumping station. The bathhouses WILL NOT BE OPENED. There is no way we can keep the bathhouses cleaned, disinfected, and all that needs to be done in order to prevent someone/s from possibly getting sick with COVID-19.

The following guidelines still MUST be practiced.

NO MORE THAN 10 PEOPLE FOR:

• group activities
• gatherings
• working on cleaning the boat dock area
• working on shelter or any other projects in the campground

NO NEW PROJECTS WILL BE STARTED

NO ACCESS TO BATHHOUSES (access is prohibited until further notice)

NO CHILDREN ARE ALLOWED ON PLAYGROUND AREAS
I'm going to attempt to clarify why the water can't be turned on until the campground opens. OUR campground is a seasonal campground meaning we close down in the fall and open up in the spring. The VDH Office of Drinking Water considers our water system a small waterworks system. With the campground being opened only certain months they call it a Seasonal Waterworks system. The Seasonal Waterworks requires certain start-up procedures that need to be approved, certification forms that need to be turned in with each water test that is taken, we MUST maintain good water quality, and requires a complete shutdown procedure when we close the park in the fall. In addition to doing the test at opening and shutting down the campground. Water test are done monthly while the campground is open. Those test are also sent to VDH Richmond. A report is sent back saying all is good or we have a problem. Thank the good Lord we have had good reports. We need to keep it that way.

If ALL of these procedures are not done properly and/or we do not abide by the Seasonal and Small Waterworks guidelines, the VDH has the right to come in and shut the campground down. No questions asked. This is why we are so protective and careful with our water system. One bad thing happens, that's it.

I've probably caused more confusion than clarification. For that I apologize. I just want each member to realize and understand that our water system is very precious to us all. I realize it's inconvenient when we don't have access to water for any amount of time but it's better to do without for a month than the campground being shut down.

Thank you all for your patience and understanding. Remember, none of us have ever experienced anything like COVID-19 guidelines before.

Don't forget to abide by the guidelines above.

May you stay safe and healthy. May God Bless each and every one of you and your families.

Lisa Saul
Recording Secretary

Approved by Russell Alls, President