ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) – The Albany Police Department is alerting the public that fishing at Lake Loretta is suspended until further notice due to ongoing environmental concerns.

According to a representative with the Lake Park Recreation Club, the lake located near E. Edgewater Drive, W. Edgewater Drive, and Dawson Road—is private property, and violators may face citations or arrest. Although a permit is typically required, no fishing will be allowed until at least the end of the year.

The decision followed an assessment by a game biologist who conducted fish sampling using electric shock techniques. The report revealed that the lake’s fish population was in distress, largely due to declining water quality and the overuse of lake dye. “We weren’t seeing the fish we normally do near the banks,” the representative said.

Contributing to the issue were unauthorized fishing and the feeding of geese, which has led to excessive waste and nutrient overload in the water. While feeding ducks is allowed, feeding geese causes them to linger and pollute the lake.

Recreational activities such as walking and picnicking remain permitted, but all fishing is prohibited. Officials have submitted an affidavit to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources requesting patrols for enforcement. Anyone caught fishing could be cited or arrested.

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