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Commerce Cabinet
Feb. 20 Newsletter on Lake Cumberland/Wolf Creek Dam
Friends of Lake Cumberland –
WORK BEGINS TO IMPROVE ACCESS AT LAKE CUMBERLAND
KYTC extending boat ramp at General Burnside Island
FRANKFORT, Ky. – As part of Governor Ernie Fletcher’s commitment to the economic health of the Lake Cumberland region, work is underway on a boat ramp extension project at General Burnside Island. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) is using rock to extend the ramp to the water so boaters will have lake access. Governor Fletcher’s Chief of Staff Stan Cave, along with Highways Commissioner Marc Williams and Commerce Secretary George Ward, visited the site today.
“Governor Fletcher has charged members of his administration – including those of us here at General Burnside Island – to work to mitigate the negative impact of lowering of Lake Cumberland, and we are committed to do just that,” said Governor Fletcher’s Chief of Staff Stan Cave. “Extending this ramp will help houseboat owners – and boaters in general – continue to access and enjoy Lake Cumberland.”
“During our numerous meetings with folks in the area one constant theme kept coming up,” said Kentucky Commerce Cabinet secretary George Ward. “The boat ramp at General Burnside Island State Park was essential to the houseboat industry and strategically important for all boaters in general. This work will help more boaters enjoy Lake Cumberland.”
Governor Fletcher ordered the boat ramp extension after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lowered the level of Lake Cumberland. The extension makes the ramp safer.
Kentucky Transportation crews are modifying the Burnside ramp. Rock is being placed and compacted to the waters edge. The ramp will be approximately 50 feet wide. Rock is also being placed below the water surface to blend in with the natural grade.
“Under Governor Fletcher’s leadership, state agencies are working together to implement innovative solutions to this critical problem,” said Highways Commissioner Marc Williams. “The Transportation Cabinet will pursue a more permanent fix by pouring a concrete ramp all the way to the water this spring.”
The estimated cost for the first of the project is $20,000.
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LAKE CUMBERLAND PHOTOS WANTED!
We are looking for photos, and even video if you can, of how Lake Cumberland looks at the 680’ level. Our goal is to send the photos out in e-cards, marketing material, posting on web sites and even “publishing” in this newsletter. We want to reach as many folks as we can and show them the lake has plenty of water.
We only want photos or video that have been taken since the lake settled at 680’ on 2/12 or after. We do not want to be accused of deceiving viewers with older photos or video, no matter how beautiful.
Please send them to me at this e-mail address or I can give you a snail mail address if you prefer that route.
Below is an e-mail from a 10 year veteran of Lake Cumberland houseboat visits. Paula’s family comes from the Pittsburgh area every year and will continue to do so again this summer for year number 11. She was seeking some specific information that we were able to help her out with.
Thank you! I appreciate your prompt response and additional help sources!
We love Lake Cumberland, and you have given the area and the folks involved an additional A+!
Again, thank you.
Paula
KY Tourism Department will have a new Lake Cumberland radio campaign/ad buy
Spend “Spring Break” at Lake Cumberland. It’s a lot cheaper than Florida and the money stays at home. In fact, the Kentucky Department of Tourism will be delivering that message in radio commercials during the boys and girls “Sweet 16” high school basketball tournaments in mid-March in Kentucky.
All of the Army Corps of Engineers’ websites below are operational now. A power failure had knocked out some of their functions.
Weekly Update on Wolf Creek Dam From the Army Corps of Engineers:
http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil/pao/issues/WOLcommo/pdf/20Feb2007_weekly_update.pdf
UPDATED RAMP CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO THE CORPS:
Usable
The following are Corps operated and Commercial Marina boat ramps that we believe will be usable at elevation 680 (* these ramps will be monitored closely; conditions are subject to change as the elevation lowers):
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Burnside Island State Park (one lane concrete to gravel, small boats only) |
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Cave Creek (approx. 15' of concrete left, then mud) |
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Conley Bottom Marina (campground ramp, boats less 20'approx.) |
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Fall Creek (small boats less 20'approx.) |
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Halcomb's Landing (small boats less 20'approx.) |
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Jamestown Marina |
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Lee's Ford Marina (launch time may be limited due to on-going construction) |
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Waitsboro (small boats less 20'approx.) |
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Grider Hill Marina |
CONTACT INFO:
If you have any questions, please e-mail them to me at: chris.gilligan@ky.gov.
Past newsletters are available at www.commerce.ky.gov. Click on the “News” icon on the left side of the page to view them.
ITEMS OF INTEREST
http://lakecumberland.com/
Army Corps of Engineers Lake Cumberland/Wolf Creek Dam web page. http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil/pao/issues/WOLcommo/
If you want to monitor the level here is the website: http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil/hh/resplots/wol_a.html
The Corps’ Manager's office home page:
http://www.orn.usace.army.mil/pao/lakeinfo/WOL.htm
On the Net: Corps Nashville District:
DEVELOPMENTS
Corps of Engineers Public Meeting Schedule
Kentucky Meeting
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