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Plans to replace a damaged boat ramp on the northern end of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area have been put on hold.
National Park Service crews and partners intended to replace the …
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Plans to replace a damaged boat ramp on the northern end of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area have been put on hold.
National Park Service crews and partners intended to replace the Afterbay ramp this month. The ramp is a popular launch site on the Bighorn River, near Fort Smith, Montana. However, the end of the ramp has suffered significant damage from water erosion, leaving a jagged ramp edge and a significant drop off to the river.
On Oct. 8, crews installed a coffer dam to keep water off the ramp and allow for the removal of the broken section and the pouring of a new concrete section. However, the Park Service said it was unable to seal the coffer dam tight enough to keep water from coming in; weather also presented some challenges.
The Park Service wound up removing the coffer dam on Oct. 16, reopening the current Afterbay ramp to boaters.
“We are still committed to fixing the ramp and hope to have a project in place for the 2020 season,” said Bighorn Canyon Superintendent Mike Tranel.
Tranel added that he’s grateful for the way various partners are contributing to the project. He said park staff will continue to collaborate with Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, Bureau of Reclamation and the Bighorn River Alliance.
