Ward's Chapel at Fire Lake

Ward's Chapel is a boat ramp access point on Normandy Lake, a reservoir on the Duck River in Manchester, Coffee County, Tennessee. This location provides access to a significant waterway that drains 3,454 square miles and maintains an average flow of approximately 5,719 cubic feet per second. The Duck River system is a large river classified as Stream Order 7, indicating substantial volume and generally stable conditions for boating activities.

Normandy Lake itself offers relatively calm water conditions typical of a reservoir environment, making it suitable for various types of boating. The broader Duck River system features an average gradient of 3.2 feet per mile with an average water velocity of 3.31 feet per second, suggesting moderate flow characteristics. Paddlers and boaters should be aware that while the lake portion is generally calm, conditions can vary depending on dam operations and seasonal water levels.

The elevation change across the Duck River system is substantial at 903 feet total drop over its 284-mile length, though the immediate Normandy Lake area maintains more stable water conditions. This access point serves as a gateway to exploring the reservoir and connecting to the broader Duck River system, which extends approximately 394 miles to its mouth.