Lake Snowden
Encyclopedia
Lake Snowden is a 675 acre education and recreation park in southeast Ohio
6 miles southwest of Athens and 1 mile northeast of Albany. Lake Snowden is the largest of four lakes which form the Margaret Creek Conservancy District, covering about 136 acres with a maximum lake depth of 42 feet. Lake Snowden provides flood control, water supply, recreational activities, festivals and natural wildlife.
.
purchased Lake Snowden in 1998 from Le-Ax Water District. The college owns and operates a fish hatchery located at Lake Snowden that furthers local fish management and aquaculture. Hocking college also assists the Division of Wildlife in installing deep water fish structures, monitoring fish populations, and monitoring water quality.
, swimming, boating
, camping
, picnicking, hiking
, horseback riding, bird watching and many more. For camping 125 sites are offered in four different areas of the park; The Locust Grove, Big Oak camp, Hickory Camp, and Hilltop Camp. Lake Snowden has a grass and sand beach and swimming area as well as adjacent fields that offer a great place for softball
, volleyball
, and badminton
games. The park has two shelter houses with seating for 75 each for picnicking. Boating
and horseback riding are popular as well, with 12.5 miles of horse trails and several types of rentable watercraft including canoes, rowboats, paddle boats and kayaks. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources orders Lake Snowden to be a "no wake" lake or idle only lake in order to keep the lakes natural beauty and reduce erosion caused by large waves. Anglers can bring their own boat as well, as long as the boat is under the 10HP maximum for Lake Snowden. A boat launching ramp is located on the south side of the lake, near State Route 50.
is a yearly festival for the local Pawpaw
tree fruits held at Lake Snowden. The festival is held every year around the third weekend of September
. This three day event offers music
, artwork
, food
and beer
, entertainment and activities, as well as special events from local businesses throughout southeastern Ohio. The Pawpaw
is North America's largest native tree fruit with Southern Ohio having some of the largest wild Pawpaw
patches on the planet. The fruit is very nutritious and has a creamy texture and a tropical flavor. Some popular events at the Pawpaw Festival
include the Pawpaw
cook off, the best Pawpaw
competition, and the Pawpaw
eating contest. There is also a prize awarded for the largest Pawpaw
. Several Ohio breweries provide unique Pawpaw
beer brewed with pawpaw
pulp at the beer garden as well.
, beaver, mink, fox, raccoon, squirrel, rabbit and wild turkey, and a wide assortment of aquatic wildlife. Birdwatching
is a very popular activity with the park being a great place for migrating waterfowl such as canvasback, common goldeneye or ringneck duck. Bluebirds, song sparrows and northern harrier are also common species to the area. Lake Snowden is a popular fishing lake known for its largemouth bass and channel catfish.
, bluegill
, redear sunfish
, largemouth bass
and saugeye. Saugeye are stocked every year and channel catfish yearlings are stocked every other year. Lake Snowden is one of the finest catfish lakes in southern Ohio with excellent largemouth bass
catch rates according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Bluegill
are caught on primarily wax worms and red worms at various midwater depths and can be caught near the surface during warmer weather. Redear Sunfish
like deep water and are often caught around underwater structures and also favor wax worms and red worms. Largemouth Bass
fishing is best when the lake starts to warm up in early spring. Largemouth tend to favor deep water and are caught primarily on lures such as jigs and deepdriving crank baits. The bass move to shallow water to feed as the water approaches 70 degrees. Channel Catfish
are generally caught around the dam and shoreline access points and can be caught with chicken liver or hotdog bits.
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
6 miles southwest of Athens and 1 mile northeast of Albany. Lake Snowden is the largest of four lakes which form the Margaret Creek Conservancy District, covering about 136 acres with a maximum lake depth of 42 feet. Lake Snowden provides flood control, water supply, recreational activities, festivals and natural wildlife.
History
Lake Snowden was developed as a part of the PL-566 Margaret Creek Watershed Project with federal funds through the Farmer’s Home Administration and the Soil Conservation Service to try and control flooding in the area. The dam was completed in July 1970 across a branch of Maragret Creek. Recreation pool was achieved in April 1972. It opened to the public in 1972 and in 1998 Lake Snowden was purchased by Hocking CollegeHocking College
Hocking College, a technical college located in Nelsonville, Ohio, in the Appalachian region of the United States offers a wide selection of curriculum, with 56 associate degree programs, as well as several certification programs.- Mission :...
.
Hocking College
Hocking CollegeHocking College
Hocking College, a technical college located in Nelsonville, Ohio, in the Appalachian region of the United States offers a wide selection of curriculum, with 56 associate degree programs, as well as several certification programs.- Mission :...
purchased Lake Snowden in 1998 from Le-Ax Water District. The college owns and operates a fish hatchery located at Lake Snowden that furthers local fish management and aquaculture. Hocking college also assists the Division of Wildlife in installing deep water fish structures, monitoring fish populations, and monitoring water quality.
Recreation
Lake Snowden offers a wide range of outdoor recreation including fishingFishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, swimming, boating
Boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
, camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
, picnicking, hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, horseback riding, bird watching and many more. For camping 125 sites are offered in four different areas of the park; The Locust Grove, Big Oak camp, Hickory Camp, and Hilltop Camp. Lake Snowden has a grass and sand beach and swimming area as well as adjacent fields that offer a great place for softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
, volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, and badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
games. The park has two shelter houses with seating for 75 each for picnicking. Boating
Boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
and horseback riding are popular as well, with 12.5 miles of horse trails and several types of rentable watercraft including canoes, rowboats, paddle boats and kayaks. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources orders Lake Snowden to be a "no wake" lake or idle only lake in order to keep the lakes natural beauty and reduce erosion caused by large waves. Anglers can bring their own boat as well, as long as the boat is under the 10HP maximum for Lake Snowden. A boat launching ramp is located on the south side of the lake, near State Route 50.
Pawpaw Festival
The Ohio Pawpaw FestivalPawpaw Festival
The Pawpaw Festival or Ohio Pawpaw Festival is an annual festival dedicated to the Pawpaw fruit that is indigenous to the Eastern, Southern, and Midwestern United States, and cultivated in the Athens County, Ohio, area....
is a yearly festival for the local Pawpaw
Pawpaw
Asimina is a genus of eight species of small trees or shrubs with large simple leaves and large fruit, native to eastern North America. The genus includes the widespread common pawpaw Asimina triloba, which bears the largest edible fruit indigenous to the continent. Pawpaws are native to 26 states...
tree fruits held at Lake Snowden. The festival is held every year around the third weekend of September
September
September is the 9th month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of four months with a length of 30 days.September in the Southern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent of March in the Northern Hemisphere....
. This three day event offers music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, artwork
Artwork
Artwork may refer to:* A work of art in the visual arts* A piece of conceptual art* In publishing, printing and advertising, any visual as opposed to textual material, usually in the context of preparing for printing, including:...
, food
Food
Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
and beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
, entertainment and activities, as well as special events from local businesses throughout southeastern Ohio. The Pawpaw
Pawpaw
Asimina is a genus of eight species of small trees or shrubs with large simple leaves and large fruit, native to eastern North America. The genus includes the widespread common pawpaw Asimina triloba, which bears the largest edible fruit indigenous to the continent. Pawpaws are native to 26 states...
is North America's largest native tree fruit with Southern Ohio having some of the largest wild Pawpaw
Pawpaw
Asimina is a genus of eight species of small trees or shrubs with large simple leaves and large fruit, native to eastern North America. The genus includes the widespread common pawpaw Asimina triloba, which bears the largest edible fruit indigenous to the continent. Pawpaws are native to 26 states...
patches on the planet. The fruit is very nutritious and has a creamy texture and a tropical flavor. Some popular events at the Pawpaw Festival
Pawpaw Festival
The Pawpaw Festival or Ohio Pawpaw Festival is an annual festival dedicated to the Pawpaw fruit that is indigenous to the Eastern, Southern, and Midwestern United States, and cultivated in the Athens County, Ohio, area....
include the Pawpaw
Pawpaw
Asimina is a genus of eight species of small trees or shrubs with large simple leaves and large fruit, native to eastern North America. The genus includes the widespread common pawpaw Asimina triloba, which bears the largest edible fruit indigenous to the continent. Pawpaws are native to 26 states...
cook off, the best Pawpaw
Pawpaw
Asimina is a genus of eight species of small trees or shrubs with large simple leaves and large fruit, native to eastern North America. The genus includes the widespread common pawpaw Asimina triloba, which bears the largest edible fruit indigenous to the continent. Pawpaws are native to 26 states...
competition, and the Pawpaw
Pawpaw
Asimina is a genus of eight species of small trees or shrubs with large simple leaves and large fruit, native to eastern North America. The genus includes the widespread common pawpaw Asimina triloba, which bears the largest edible fruit indigenous to the continent. Pawpaws are native to 26 states...
eating contest. There is also a prize awarded for the largest Pawpaw
Pawpaw
Asimina is a genus of eight species of small trees or shrubs with large simple leaves and large fruit, native to eastern North America. The genus includes the widespread common pawpaw Asimina triloba, which bears the largest edible fruit indigenous to the continent. Pawpaws are native to 26 states...
. Several Ohio breweries provide unique Pawpaw
Pawpaw
Asimina is a genus of eight species of small trees or shrubs with large simple leaves and large fruit, native to eastern North America. The genus includes the widespread common pawpaw Asimina triloba, which bears the largest edible fruit indigenous to the continent. Pawpaws are native to 26 states...
beer brewed with pawpaw
Pawpaw
Asimina is a genus of eight species of small trees or shrubs with large simple leaves and large fruit, native to eastern North America. The genus includes the widespread common pawpaw Asimina triloba, which bears the largest edible fruit indigenous to the continent. Pawpaws are native to 26 states...
pulp at the beer garden as well.
Wildlife
Lake Snowden has a wide variety of wildlife including whitetail deer, Canada geese, many species of duckDuck
Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, which also includes swans and geese. The ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the Anatidae family; they do not represent a monophyletic group but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered...
, beaver, mink, fox, raccoon, squirrel, rabbit and wild turkey, and a wide assortment of aquatic wildlife. Birdwatching
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
is a very popular activity with the park being a great place for migrating waterfowl such as canvasback, common goldeneye or ringneck duck. Bluebirds, song sparrows and northern harrier are also common species to the area. Lake Snowden is a popular fishing lake known for its largemouth bass and channel catfish.
Fishing
The primary sport fish species managed are channel catfishChannel catfish
Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, is North America's most numerous catfish species. It is the official fish of Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Tennessee, and is informally referred to as a "channel cat". In the United States they are the most fished catfish species with approximately 8...
, bluegill
Bluegill
The Bluegill is a species of freshwater fish sometimes referred to as bream, brim, or copper nose. It is a member of the sunfish family Centrarchidae of the order Perciformes.-Range and distribution:...
, redear sunfish
Redear sunfish
The redear sunfish , also known as the shellcracker, Georgia bream, cherry gill, chinquapin, improved bream, rouge ear sunfish and sun perch, is native to the southeastern United States, but since it is a popular sport fish it has been introduced to bodies of water all over North America...
, largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
The largemouth bass is a species of black bass in the sunfish family native to North America . It is also known as widemouth bass, bigmouth, black bass, bucketmouth, Potter's fish, Florida bass, Florida largemouth, green bass, green trout, linesides, Oswego bass, southern largemouth...
and saugeye. Saugeye are stocked every year and channel catfish yearlings are stocked every other year. Lake Snowden is one of the finest catfish lakes in southern Ohio with excellent largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
The largemouth bass is a species of black bass in the sunfish family native to North America . It is also known as widemouth bass, bigmouth, black bass, bucketmouth, Potter's fish, Florida bass, Florida largemouth, green bass, green trout, linesides, Oswego bass, southern largemouth...
catch rates according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Bluegill
Bluegill
The Bluegill is a species of freshwater fish sometimes referred to as bream, brim, or copper nose. It is a member of the sunfish family Centrarchidae of the order Perciformes.-Range and distribution:...
are caught on primarily wax worms and red worms at various midwater depths and can be caught near the surface during warmer weather. Redear Sunfish
Redear sunfish
The redear sunfish , also known as the shellcracker, Georgia bream, cherry gill, chinquapin, improved bream, rouge ear sunfish and sun perch, is native to the southeastern United States, but since it is a popular sport fish it has been introduced to bodies of water all over North America...
like deep water and are often caught around underwater structures and also favor wax worms and red worms. Largemouth Bass
Largemouth bass
The largemouth bass is a species of black bass in the sunfish family native to North America . It is also known as widemouth bass, bigmouth, black bass, bucketmouth, Potter's fish, Florida bass, Florida largemouth, green bass, green trout, linesides, Oswego bass, southern largemouth...
fishing is best when the lake starts to warm up in early spring. Largemouth tend to favor deep water and are caught primarily on lures such as jigs and deepdriving crank baits. The bass move to shallow water to feed as the water approaches 70 degrees. Channel Catfish
Channel catfish
Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, is North America's most numerous catfish species. It is the official fish of Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Tennessee, and is informally referred to as a "channel cat". In the United States they are the most fished catfish species with approximately 8...
are generally caught around the dam and shoreline access points and can be caught with chicken liver or hotdog bits.