News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Friends of Dale Hollow Lake are selling merchandise to help fund projects around the lake for increased visitor safety.
Friends of Dale Hollow member Sheree Legro said t-shirts, sweatshirts, and caps are available for purchase to help The Army Corps of Engineers pay for maintenance and visitor-experience projects around the lake. Legro said the project they are most focused on right now is additional signage for boaters.
“We have a lot of out-of-state people that come in and they get a map,” Legro said. “The maps are good, but if you don’t know where you’re at, you don’t know where you’re at and GPS sometimes is not that great on the lake.”
Legro said Dale Hollow Lake attracts millions of visitors each year, but over 600 miles of undeveloped shoreline can be tricky to navigate for people who are not familiar with the area.
Legro said that the funds raised will contribute to maintenance projects like shore cleanup and replacement of old signs. Legro said this round of merchandise sales will heavily impact boater safety by funding signs on the lake that will make it easier for boaters and fishermen to navigate the lake which spans some 28,000 acres of land.
“We just want people to come out to the lake and enjoy it,” Legro said. “Most of the people that are members of Friends of Dale Hollow, they live on the lake, they boat on the lake, and they fish on the lake. We just want people to be able to enjoy the lake as much as we do.”
Friends of Dale Hollow sells their merchandise at Dale Hollow events like their annual Eagle Watch. Every January, people are encouraged to attend guided tours held at the lake where they search for nesting bald eagles. Legro said Friends of Dale Hollow wants the community to get involved with the fundraising. They have partnered with Boy Scouts and church groups to help the Corps keep the lake and campground clean and keep trails cleared.
Legro said that this project will even help people who are familiar with the lake.
“For people that don’t know how to get around the lake, and I’m one of them, I actually went out one time and thought I was out in the middle of the lake, but I actually hadn’t even gotten close to it,” Legro said. “It helps people get around on the lake to the different marinas, but also if you’re trying to get to the main body of the lake, you’ll have a sign that will help you.”
