The property along the banks of Lake Manassas does not belong to the Association. The Association, nor any of its members, can grant permission to access the Lake from within the community. Anyone doing so is trespassing on private property.

The City of Manassas owns Lake Manassas and boating and swimming are not permitted. The Lake is a 770-acre reservoir which provides drinking water for area residents and is part of a regional water system serving the City of Manassas and other parts of Prince William County.

Sec. 118-64. – Protection of the city’s reservoir (Lake Manassas)
(a) This section is primarily designed to protect Lake Manassas (“the lake”) as a public reservoir and, to the extent practically consistent with protection of the reservoir, provide enjoyable and safe recreation for the public.
(b) The City of Manassas reserves the right to restrict use in any easements conveyed to the city and city-owned areas in, on or around the lake by use of buoys, markings, signs and other postings. Use contrary to buoys, markings, signs or postings constitutes trespassing. Tampering with any of these buoys, markings, or signs is prohibited.
(c) At the present time, all boating on the lake is prohibited with the exception of boats on official business approved in advance by the city superintendent for water and sewer. This includes, but is not limited to, City of Manassas Police Patrol, City of Manassas Water and Sewer Department surveillance, the Occoquan Watershed Monitoring Laboratory and any state or federal agency.
(d) Users of the lake shall comply with all applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations.
(e) No structures, motor vehicles, boats or equipment may be placed, parked, built or operated on city-owned property or flood easement without the approval of city council.
-(1) For purposes of this section, “structure” has the meaning of an assembly of materials forming a construction for occupancy or use including stadiums, gospel and circus tents, reviewing stands, platforms, stagings, observation towers, radio towers, water tanks, storage tanks (underground and aboveground), trestles, piers, wharves, swimming pools, amusement devices, storage bins, and other structures of this general nature but excluding water wells.
-(2) For purposes of this section, “flood easement” means easements of the city for the operation of the reservoir where the applicable deed gives the city the right to control usage.
Generally, this includes property around the lake from the 300-foot elevation contour line down to the 285-foot elevation contour line.
-(3) The city may remove unpermitted structures, motor vehicles, boats or equipment at the adjacent landowner’s expense.
(f) The following is prohibited on the lake and on city-owned property and flood easements
surrounding the lake:
-(1) Discarding of cans, bottles, rubbish or other trash.
-(2) Alcoholic beverages.
(g) No swimming or other water contact by persons or pets is permitted in the lake.
(h) In accordance with the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Species Act, it is unlawful to introduce the Zebra Mussel or any other non-indigenous aquatic nuisance species to Lake Manassas. Accordingly, all boats and equipment that could harbor Zebra Mussels or other aquatic nuisance species must be inspected and approved by city personnel or agents before contacting waters of the lake.
(i) Brush or trees may be cleared from city property upon the written approval of submitted plans by the Water and Sewer Superintendent for the City of Manassas, provided all applicable county permits (including permits for open burning) are obtained. Clearing shall be in strict accordance with approved plans.
(j) Bank fishing is permitted on the lake with strict adherence to the following requirements:
-(1) Bank fishing is permitted during daylight hours only.
-(2) Appropriate fishing licenses must be obtained in accordance with the Virginia
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
-(3) Bank fishing is permitted only in accordance with Virginia Game and Inland Fisheries Regulations.
-(4) Fishing is not permitted between the dam spillway and markers, buoys and other
warning devices installed by the City of Manassas.
-(5) The public does not have the right to cross private property to gain fishing access to the Lake without the permission of the property owner. Otherwise lawful access to the Lake constitutes trespassing if obtained across private property without property owner’s
consent.
(k) Any person violating any provision of this section, or any order of the city council or its designee, issued pursuant to the authority granted under this section, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
(Ord. No. O-2005-05, § 1, 9-29-2004)