Del. Wren Williams, R-Stuart, said Monday that the Army Corps of Engineers at Philpott Lake is now scheduled to receive full funding for its $1.6 million recreation budget. As of last month, current drafts of the Fiscal Year 2023 Army Corps Operations and Maintenance budget showed that Philpott Lake’s recreation budget had been slashed by 34 percent, or $545,000.
“Philpott Lake is one of the best-kept secrets of our district, with its pristine beaches, blissful fishing, and beautiful nature views. The Army Corps of Engineers uses the Recreation Budget to maintain the parks, boat launches, beaches, and camping sites for all of our residents and tourists to enjoy. Without that funding, these facilities would degrade and eventually have to close,” Williams said in a release.
“Saving Philpott Lake’s recreation funding is a huge win for residents of Patrick, Franklin, and Henry, and for our local businesses that thrive off fishing and tourism,” he said, and added that he “especially want to thank the staff at Philpott Lake for their hard work preserving, maintaining, and making available this great natural resource for us to enjoy. And I want to thank Congressman Morgan Griffith’s Office for working with us to get this vital funding restored.”
The Army Corps of Engineers at Philpott Lake will officially receive the full funding when Congress enacts the FY23 appropriations bill.
