Mobile, Al — A legal battle over control of a key drinking water reservoir in south Alabama has ended in a settlement that will restore public access to Big Creek Lake while keeping strict protections in place.
As part of the broader resolution, charges against a man accused of trespassing on the lake are being dropped. Raymond Anthony “Andy” Elsworth had faced a misdemeanor charge tied to alleged unauthorized entry onto the reservoir, but the case will not move forward following the agreement. On Monday, the Mobile County District Attorney’s filed a motion to dismiss the “unauthorized entry of critical infrastructure” charge.
The Mobile Area Water and Sewer System and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced the settlement resolving a lawsuit over who has authority over the J.B. Converse Reservoir, locally known as Big Creek Lake. The deal allows fishing and limited recreation to resume under rules designed to protect the water supply…