Fishermen of areas around Lake Hancock are happy with the decision of dredging the lake approved by the authority. County Commission has approved for Hayes-McKay, a private company, to dredge Lake Hancock. Hayes-McKay is undertaking this project at no cost to the county. It feels that anticipated revenue to be gained from the dredging project will be sufficient to offset any cost to the district or county. It did not disclose the cost or revenue that will be gained off this project.
According to the local fishermen they have fished commercially on this lake since the early 1900s. They are concerned about what the dredging will do to the fish population in the lake, as well as the other wildlife in the area. It is told that the county authorities have paid millions of dollars to develop the area for conservation on Lake Hancock.
It is expected that more people should be allowed input on this matter prior to the start of any dredging or approval of same. This not only affects people who make their living off the fish in Lake Hancock, but who wants to visit a wildlife preserve with machinery, noise and people dredging a lake? Similar questions have raised the eyebrows of local fishermen.
