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MISSOURI RIVER RESERVOIR ACCESS
IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY GROUP
April 5 and 6, 2005
MATTHEW TRAINING CENTER
PIERRE, SD
On Tuesday afternoon, April 5, 2005, the
Governor’s Advisory Group on Missouri River Reservoir Access
Improvements met to review Department of Game, Fish and Parks’
plans for boating access management on Lake Oahe this summer.
That evening the Advisory Group hosted a public meeting at the
Fort Pierre Holiday Inn Express to hear public comments on Lake
Oahe boating access and Game, Fish & Parks’ 2005 construction
plans. Members present were Co-chairmen Senator Mike Broderick,
and Representative Tom Deadrick and other members; Pat Harer,
Larry Atkinson, Denny Palmer, Terry Boxdorfer, Russ Backus,
Chris Hesla and Troy Hanson. Members not present were Mike
Jandreau, Jim Hutmacher, John Henderson and Marileen Tilberg.
Staff members from the Department of Game Fish and Parks include
Department Secretary John Cooper, Division Director Doug Hofer,
Bob Schneider, Jeff Peters, John White, Greg Otkin and Vicki
Norden.
The Advisory Group and staff reconvened
Wednesday morning April 6 with Co-chairman Broderick calling the
meeting to order.
2005 Access Improvement Efforts
The Corps of Engineers maintains lake level
simulations based on their annual operating plan. The April 1st
basic simulation indicates that the lake level could reach an
annual low of 1,567.3 above mean seal level (msl) at the end of
August. The April 1st lower basic simulation
indicates the lake could fall to 1,563.9 msl at the end of
September. The
Department of Game, Fish and Parks is
utilizing the lower basic simulation for construction planning.
The Advisory Group concurred with Game, Fish
and Parks intention to proceed with ramp extension projects this
summer at West Shore, Spring Creek, Cow Creek, Little Bend,
Bob’s Landing, West Whitlock, Indian Creek, Swan Creek, Walth
Bay & Shaw Creek and new ramp construction at Bush’s Landing and
West Whitlock. Further actions to improve boating access in 2005
will include:
- Chantier Creek GFP
Engineers will attempt to locate a site where access can be
developed and a portable metal ramp installed for use this
summer. A project will be developed to extend the existing low
water ramp down to the water’s edge this fall when the lake is
at its lowest level. Soil conditions at this site make
constructing ramp below water not feasible.
- Minneconjou
- The low water ramp at Minneconjou is
currently usable down to a lake level of 1,571 feet. Due to
obstructions and the diminished depth of the bay, no further
extensions of this ramp will be made.
- Little Bend Access Road
- GFP will attempt to
negotiate a three-way cooperative agreement with Sully
County and the Corps of Engineers to provide chemical dust
control on the access road to the boat ramp. The three
entities each own a portion of the road.
- Parking closer to low water access points.
- Study the parking situation at West
Whitlock, Bob’s Landing and Bushes Landing. Evaluate options
for expanded parking near the water.
- Courtesy Docks
- Evaluate all sites and place courtesy
docks at the boat ramps where practical.
- Spring Creek
- Relocate the breakwater as needed to accommodate marina
slips.
- Extend ramp when water is at lowest in
September to accommodate removal of large boats moored in
area marinas.
- Website updates
- Provide daily ramp statues to Associated
Press.
- Provide daily ramp status to the SD
Department of Public Safety so it can be made available to
Emergency Response Personnel.
- Provide Department of Tourism and
Governor’s office with Advisory Group meeting minutes. Ensure
Tourism has current access and fishing updates for their use
in promoting the region.
- Volunteer Rides at Boat Ramps that are a
long distance from parking lots.
- Develop and make available a mechanism
for volunteers to provide rides between boat dock and
parking lots that would take into consideration liability
concerns.
- Indian Memorial Ramp (managed by Standing
Rock Sioux Tribe)
- Encourage SRST to seek federal funding
for ramp extension project.
- Offer Indian Creek ramp (GFP managed) as
optional launch site for this summer’s Pro Walleye
Tournament if Indian Memorial ramp is out of service. (Both
ramps are in immediate Mobridge area)
Proposed 2006 Projects
- Swan Creek
- The Swan Creek low water boat ramp will
be extended to an elevation of 1563 as planned. Further
extension is not feasible due to shallow water and
obstacles. GFP Engineers will explore the potential for a
new low water ramp that could be constructed in 2006 if
needed.
- Walth Bay
- The boat ramp will be extended to an
elevation of 1564 as planned. The planned construction of a
new low water ramp will be put on hold this summer. The site
of the proposed ramp is very open and provides no protection
from the wind. Funding will be redirected to Swan Creek if
needed in 2006.
- New sight at Jones Bay near Pollock
- GF&P Engineers will
explore the feasibility of developing a temporary (this
summer) or permanent (2006) low water ramp at Jones Bay
approximately 10 miles south of Pollock.
- Investigate alternate sites for any of the
12 Oahe sites in operation this summer that can not be
extended further.
- Assess boating access on Lake Francis Case
in light of the Corps’ current water management practice of
early drawdown. Determine which ramps can be extended to
provide fall use.
The meeting was adjourned and a meeting set
for September 22, 2005 to further discuss 2006 access needs.
Copyright Ó 2005 State of
South Dakota |
