Years of declining water levels finally caught up with the last public boat ramp at Lake McConaughy. August 15 marked the official closing of the last public launch site (Spillway Bay) within the Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area.
The area has been affected by severe drought over the years, and water levels dropped to levels not seen since 2006.
Although public boat launches are no longer available, visitors can still enjoy a variety of recreational activities through alternative ways to access the lake.
State officials stated that the condition of the ramp was in such poor shape that state park rangers were unable to manage it safely.
They tried to keep the lake accessible
McConaughy Reservoir was constructed in the late 1930s to hold water for irrigation systems that would supply farmers with water in surrounding areas.
Water levels have varied from year to year due to normal weather fluctuations.
However, the current drought, along with increased demand for irrigation water and decreased mountain snowpack, exacerbated the decline in reservoir levels.
Instead of closing access right away, Nebraska Game and Parks employees worked throughout the summer to allow visitors to take advantage of recreational activities offered at Lake McConaughy.
As part of those efforts, employees opened up access at Spillway Bay using a makeshift road made out of sand and put an emergency ramp back into operation. The emergency ramp was previously built from a set of concrete railroad crossing plates used during the 2006 drought.
It allowed boaters to launch temporarily until lake levels dropped further.
Employees also relocated docks, removed sand from all boat launch areas, and continually assessed conditions around the lake. These efforts allowed access to continue for boaters even though the conditions became increasingly difficult as time went on.
Eventually the conditions became too dangerous
Once the bottom of the Spillway Bay ramp developed a deep mud hole, the situation changed.
When vehicles attempted to launch boats, they became more frequently stuck. This occurred because water levels receded, leaving thicker layers of saturated mud hidden below what appeared to be shallow waters.
Additionally, several cabs received water damage from being submerged by muck.
The Nebraska Game & Parks Commission stated that as water levels fell, softer parts of the lake bed were exposed and could no longer support vehicle traffic.
Because the situation continued to worsen, it was decided that public launches needed to close. Closing the ramps ended a summer-long attempt to provide public boat access to the historically low water level of Lake McConaughy.
The lake is still open, but the rules have changed
Although public boat ramps are closed, Lake McConaughy remains open for boating, fishing, paddling, swimming, camping, and shoreline recreation. Campgrounds, beaches, lodging facilities, restaurants, convenience stores, and other visitor services continue to operate.
At present, private boat launch services are the safest and most consistent means for boaters to get to the water.
Visitors also need to be aware of other hazards created by decreasing water levels.
Some of the biggest dangers are not visible
Boaters are discouraged from traveling west of Van’s Lakeview, where large amounts of mud flats have caused many watercraft to become stranded. These areas continue to shift as water levels recede.
Beach launchers do so at their own peril.
With water levels extremely low, shallow areas, soft lakebeds, and drop-offs are not easily discernible from above.
Boaters who experience getting stuck should remain on board and wait for assistance instead of attempting to wade through mud.
Emergency personnel have very few resources available and must prioritize human safety prior to retrieving watercraft.
Nebraska Game and Parks employees will monitor lake conditions and make changes to access as necessary.
Read the whole thing?
Get the week's signal, not the noise
Our sharpest reporting on energy, climate and nature — free, once a week.
