Commerce Cabinet
April 12 Newsletter on Lake Cumberland/Wolf Creek Dam

Friends of Lake Cumberland –

WORK BEGINS ON EXTENDING BOAT RAMPS AT GENERAL BURNSIDE ISLAND STATE PARK AND LAKE CUMBERLAND STATE RESORT PARK

SOMERSET, KY - The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is beginning construction work on extending boat ramps at General Burnside Island State Park and Lake Cumberland State Resort Park. Work began Monday, April 9, 2007.

 The Kentucky Department of Parks is spending nearly $500,000 on the two projects. Work at General Burnside is estimated at $288,000. The ramp extension at Lake Cumberland State Resort is estimated at $209,000.

 At Lake Cumberland State Resort Park, the ramp includes a total extension of roughly 225 feet; extending approximately 90 feet into the water at the 680’ depth.

 At General Burnside, the 90 foot wide ramp will be extended 120 feet for pleasure craft, with a one lane extension of 165 feet for houseboats (16 foot lane).  The houseboat lane will be extended to a depth of 669’, with the remainder of the ramp to a depth of 674.4’.

 During construction at General Burnside, one lane will remain open at all times for use in launching pleasure boats. However, access for launching of houseboats will be limited to Monday and Tuesday of each week only. 

 The ramp extension work is necessary because of The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers decision to lower the water level at Lake Cumberland to make needed repairs to Wolf Creek Dam.

 The public is advised to use caution when utilizing this facility.

 Construction will be performed by Hinkle Contracting Corporation of Paris, Kentucky. Both ramps are scheduled to be completed by May 19.

 Boat ramp extension work is also taking place at Ono in the Caney Creek embayment ($20,000), Slate Branch ($30,000) and Lilly Creek ($70,000). The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is handling construction of these three ramps.

CORPS’ INUNDATION MAPS NOW AVAILABLE ON LINE

With the click of a mouse, you can now find out projected water levels if the Wolf Creek Dam fails. Maps showing what areas would be in jeopardy, following a breech, are now on the Internet.

Lake Cumberland Cleanup

The Friends of Lake Cumberland have planned a Lake Cumberland cleanup.

They will be cleaning the shoreline April 14th at the following docks:

Grider Hill                   Alligator Dock #1 and #2

Conley Bottom           Waitsboro and Burnside Island ramp area as well

They will be working from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Gloves and trash bags will be provided.

They will not be providing food, so anyone working should bring something for lunch.

For more info contact: 

Steve Syphax

NEWS ARTICLES

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770411028
Wolf Creek Dam maps now available on the Internet

http://www.wtvq.com/midatlantic/tvq/home.apx.-content-articles-TVQ-2007-04-12-0004.html

State Will Test "Reverse 911" Downstream of Dam

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070412/NEWS01/704120362
State testing dam failure notification system

Usable Boat Ramps According to the Corps:

The following Corps operated and Commercial Marina boat ramps are usable at or near the target elevation 680.  (Ramps are monitored on a daily basis and conditions are subject to change.)

WEB SITES OF INTEREST

http://duo-county.com/cam_lake01.html

Jamestown Resort Marina, from the motel island looking ESE out to the main lake.

LIVE WEBCAM ON LAKE CUMBERLAND