CLEARLAKE, Calif. – All ramps at Thompson Harbor Boat Launching Facility in Clearlake are now closed as a result of low water levels.
The three ramps that had remained opened since the facility's partial closure in late August were closed to public access on Friday.
“We've been monitoring (the facility) and it's to the point where it's time to shut it down,” Clearlake Public Works Director Doug Herren said, citing conditions at the facility present safety as well as liability concerns.
He said recently a boater struck a piece of equipment owned by an area water company while coming into the facility.
“From a liability standpoint, we need to close the ramps down,” City Manager Joan Phillipe said before the Clearlake City Council Thursday evening.
Herren said the timing of the closure is good as a multi-year facility rehabilitation project moves forward.
The project, which is in its third and final phase, will ensure Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, enhance parking lot and boat launching facilities and improve the safety of the park.
The project, which is grant-funded through California Boating and Waterways, includes lengthening one boarding dock, replacement of two suspended boarding float docks, replacement of two other boarding floats, additional security lighting in the parking lot area and on the boarding floats, dredging in the area of existing boarding floats, rehabilitation of existing parking lot paving and restriping, and installation of a new project sign.
Coastland Civil Engineers' conceptual design work on the project was approved in June.
In September, Argonaut Constructors received the contract for construction of the third phase, the majority of which includes rehabilitation and repaving of the parking lot.
Additionally, Argonaut Constructors will replace and extend two boarding docks, extend another and install lighting on them. Herren said this will complete the project.
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City of Clearlake closes remaining Thompson Harbor boat ramps
- Denise Rockenstein
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