WAPPAPELLO — Officials at Wappapello Lake have announced immediate changes to group size restrictions at the lake’s 10 recreation area picnic shelters, which have been in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of Tuesday, all restrictions on group sizes at picnic shelters have been lifted, according to Park Ranger Andrew Jefferson.
From May 13 until Tuesday, the number of people using the picnic shelters was limited to 10 or less at each.
“It was a combination of the state and federal government,” Jefferson said of the decision to lift restrictions at the picnic shelters.
The State of Missouri moved to Phase Two of Gov. Mike Parson’s “Show-Me Strong Recovery Plan” on Tuesday.
The lake’s picnic shelters can be reserved online at www.recreation.gov, or if they are not marked as reserved, they are available on a first-come, first-served basis without cost.
Other COVID-19 restrictions remain in place at Wappapello Lake, Jefferson said, primarily focused around special events.
“That’s the only change until July 1,” Jefferson said. “Starting then, we will be looking at special events again.”
The first major event will be the July 3 fireworks display put on by the Wappapello Lake Area Association, followed on July 4 with a “Movie in the Park” event.
In August, a pair of interpretive programs are scheduled, and more may be added.
“They won’t be in the visitor center, but outside,” explained Jefferson. “We will have a tent set up where people can sit down for the interpretive programs.”
Two programs on Aug. 25, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., will feature live eagles, and on Aug. 29, there will be a live snake demonstration.
As lake operations slowly return to normal and restrictions are lifted, Jefferson still cautions visitors to follow the CDC’s COVID-19 guidelines.
“It feels good to be back kind of in rhythm like we were before COVID-19, but we still a ways to go,” he said. “We still encourage folks coming to the lake to use social distancing and masks.”