FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Commerce Cabinet will keep a Lake Cumberland office open to help promote the lake through the 2008 tourist season, Secretary Marcheta Sparrow announced today.

The office will be located at Lake Cumberland State Resort Park near Jamestown and will be staffed by Van Back, who began working in the office last year.

 “My administration is committed to doing what it can to help the tourism industry in the Lake Cumberland area,” Gov. Steve Beshear said. “It is important that the public is aware that there is plenty of water for boating, fishing and other activities at Lake Cumberland.”

The purpose of the office is to promote Lake Cumberland while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers makes repairs to Wolf Creek Dam, with the level of the lake lower than the normal summer pool. The office will continue to monitor progress of the work on the dam, maintain communication between lake properties and state government and help promote and market the lake region.

Before joining the Department of Tourism, Back was director of Community Development for the Southern and Eastern Kentucky Tourism Development Association where he was responsible for assisting with the planning, implementation and evaluation of community development projects for the 47-county region of southern and eastern Kentucky. He lives in Wayne County.

Even at its current level, Lake Cumberland has 37,000 acres of water and is the third largest lake in Kentucky with plenty of excellent boating and fishing opportunities for tourists, Sparrow said. “We want to build upon the work that was carried out last year and make sure people know Lake Cumberland still has plenty of water and great recreation opportunities,” she said.

Some 52 boat ramps were upgraded or extended on the lake last year.

For more information about Lake Cumberland, visit: http://kentuckytourism.com/lakecumberland.htm

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