• Length: 22 Miles
• Surface Area: 800 Acres
• Volume: 30,674 Acre Feet
• Drainage Area: 60 Square Miles
• Average Depth: 16 Feet
Lake Manassas is a 770-acre reservoir located in Prince William County, Virginia, to the southwest of Gainesville. It is owned and operated by the city of Manassas, Virginia, although it is located outside the city limits. The reservoir was created in the late 1960s to provide drinking water for area residents. Today it contributes to a regional water system which serves the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, Virginia, and unincorporated areas of Prince William County. Several golf clubs have courses along the banks, including Stonewall Golf Club, Robert Trent Jones Golf Club and Virginia Oaks Golf Club.
Beginning in the 1980s, and continuing until 1995, public access to the lake was possible via a private marina. In 1999 the marina operator and the City of Manassas did not reach a mutually acceptable contract extension and the marina was closed. Since then, there has been no public boating access to Lake Manassas. In 2004, citing concerns over terrorism and the possibility of contamination by Zebra Mussels, the Manassas City Council passed an ordinance making it illegal to operate a boat on Lake Manassas. Periodic attempts have been made by the city, county, and various others to reopen the lake for public use;however, as of April 2012, none have been successful.