Lake Moomaw Dock Permits

Federal Land on All Sides

Lake Moomaw sits within a block of land that was already federal National Forest when Gathright Dam was constructed in 1975-1979. The George Washington National Forest surrounds the lake entirely. Unlike USACE reservoirs where the Corps acquired private land for the project boundary, Lake Moomaw was created within existing federal land -- which means no private property owner sits adjacent to the shoreline. There is no mechanism for a private dock permit because there is no private land from which to access the shoreline.

This is categorically different from AEP-licensed FERC lakes (Claytor, Smith Mountain, Leesville) where adjacent landowners hold private title to their shoreline-adjacent properties and apply to AEP for Shoreline Use Permits or Occupancy and Use Permits. At Lake Moomaw, every piece of land reaching the water is federal. The AEP permit framework does not apply, and the USACE and Forest Service do not issue private dock permits to individuals for this type of National Forest lake.

Bolar Flats: The Only Access Point

The sole developed boat access to Lake Moomaw is at Bolar Flats on the north end of the lake, reached via Route 687 off Route 39 near Warm Springs. Bolar Flats has a USACE-managed marina with boat slips (seasonal), a launch ramp, restrooms, picnic areas, and boat rentals during the operating season. The marina is the only place to rent a boat or purchase marine fuel within reach of Lake Moomaw. Confirm current Bolar Flats hours, services, and slip availability through USACE Norfolk District (nao.usace.army.mil) before planning a trip, particularly for early spring or late fall visits when seasonal services may not be fully operational.

What This Means for Boaters and Anglers

Every visitor to Lake Moomaw arrives at Bolar Flats. There is no other place to put a boat in the water. On peak summer weekends, the single launch ramp can produce wait times. Planning early morning arrivals on high-traffic weekends avoids the most significant congestion. The advantage of the single-access design is that the rest of the lake -- 43 miles of shoreline on 2,530 acres -- experiences no boat traffic from residential docks, no private boat houses blocking coves, no wake-sport activity around private waterfront areas. The on-water experience at Lake Moomaw is the quietest and most wilderness-like of any comparably-sized Virginia reservoir precisely because all boats come from the same public ramp and no shoreline area is fenced off for private use.