RANDOLPH, Utah. June 4, 2014. A new boat launch site by Gus Rich Point is
being discussed by Garden City mayor
John Spuhler and City Public Works director, Travis Hobbs. Hobbs was concerned that launching around the
lake off the beach is now illegal due to HB 333 and if the lake goes down, most
boats would not be able to launch at current launch places. It has
been since the 1980’s that the last ramp
was built. In the whole area there is
one boat ramp and that is the marina.
Hobbs proposes putting a launch point in between Garden City
and Laketown which extends into the deeper part of the lake. Hobbs feels that the State might fund a new
launch pad. Spuhler said this would be a
help to a public safety issue, when the winds come up everyone heads for the
Marina. Often they are too far away and need to be rescued. This would create a launch site to get to on
the south side.
This beach from Gus Rich to Rendezvous is hard to manage, so
this launch ramp facility would provide
parking and launching from a safe point.
Hobbs presented a conceptual plan
to the commissioners and will talk to
the Laketown Council as well before presenting it to the State. There would be a fee for parking which would
generate revenue. Spuhler suggested
there be spaces for restaurants and boat rental shops which would also provide
extra revenue. There are no wetlands in
the proposed area.
Cox said that the next step is talking to the state. Hobbs
estimates that it will cost $2-3 million.
The marina expansion which is still needed would be $25 million because
it is larger and it will have boat slips. This proposal is for a launch site only,
but built out with the idea that it would work during very low lake
levels. Hobbs said State Parks should
manage it as it would be a money maker.
Adding rock will increase fisheries.
This is also closer to the “rock pile” fishing pile.
Tom Weston asked about the east side of the lake. Hobbs said that if this one makes money it
could fund a launch spot on the east side. The east side has two launch sites
now. The Rendezvous launch Is not usable
when the lake is low. The launch point at
the Marina is a bottle neck. If someone
doesn’t know how to back into the launch at the marina they can use up two or
three lanes.
Tom Weston said he likes the concept. “Could we set up a
meeting with the DNR, State Lands, State Parks, UDOT,legislators and other
affected organizations to get their input.
Then plans need to be drawn to get exact costs and look for partners.” He
said.
Mayor Spuhler said that
Garden City would be willing to pay for
a couple of thousand dollars to get more details to get costs tied down
so that presentations will be more concise.
Across the highway there is land available for even more parking. Hobbs
will get letters of support from the Bear Lake Regional Commission and business
owners and HOA boards. This would also allow
an inspection site for quagga mussels at
a single point. Spuhler said it would
disperse the traffic in the summer. Cox
said there is planning money available, he could check with those agencies to
see what kind of a study will need to be done .
Norm Weston said that Rich County should support the conceptual idea and
asked that the Regional Commission be involved in looking for planning monies.
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