Projected Bullfrog North Ramp Closure Date

[Colin]

I was just about to post the same thing as Meatwagon. I was there May 14 at 3524. Who knows if the boiler plates are still in place or would be put back in.

 

[dallas massie]

There is a pile of those Boiler plates next to the ramp with a small bulldozer , are they not placed in the wrong direction . Looks to be like they should be placed the other direction.

 

[CATD8RII]

There is a pile of those Boiler plates next to the ramp with a small bulldozer , are they not placed in the wrong direction . Looks to be like they should be placed the other direction.

Yes, you would think they would be placed with the "ribs" running the same directions as the end of the concrete! Maybe they do it different on the "Northend"!

 

[dallas massie]

 

[dallas massie]

 

[Dworwood]

There is a pile of those Boiler plates next to the ramp with a small bulldozer , are they not placed in the wrong direction . Looks to be like they should be placed the other direction.

There is a chance for your tires to get between two ribs and sit there and spin because you can’t get over the “hump” if they are laid the anther way. Your tires may spin with them the way they are pictured too but you won’t get stuck between two ribs, and it does happen. Two wheel drive vehicles are usually when that happens. It depends on the spacing of the ribs too.

 

[TheMarinator]

I was just about to post the same thing as Meatwagon. I was there May 14 at 3524. Who knows if the boiler plates are still in place or would be put back in.
View attachment 19621

Oh shoot , so those boiler plates are not even in the lake now ? Yikes , well that changes things . Do we know if the NPS is planning on putting them in as the end of the concrete gets closer ?

 

[John P Funk]

Monday Update:
Well, two weeks has made a big difference to the projected closure date. Outflows were again reduced(down to 8000cfs from 9000cfs) on Oct 1st, and have combined with increased inflows to provide green numbers for 10 of the last 14 days. No accurate estimate can be made until this moisture event is over and the fallen moisture finds its way into the lake. Once declines again stabilize, an update will be possible. BOR estimates of early-December small boat closure seem more plausible. Obviously, they knew that releases would be reduced, but it seems they also "knew" or at least projected some moisture would fall. The database shows that the lake has risen .74ft(9") in the past two weeks. Hooray, for fall moisture.

 

[John P Funk]

Weekly Update:
Inflows have stabilized and assuming the green numbers are outliers, the current average decline is .0333ft/day. We are 1.2ft above houseboat closure point which puts current anticipated closure date at 36days from yesterday or November 22. Let's hope this date gets pushed back by more moisture as well. Though overnight temperatures are dropping and falling moisture in upper elevations will begin forming as snow and won't move into waterways.

 

[John P Funk]

Looks like the lake will be at 3529(houseboat launch/retrieve ends) around Friday the 18th or Saturday the 19th(barring any more surprise storms). Yesterdays elevation was 3529.19 with an average decline of -.05ft/day. Fall moisture has extended the usage of the ramp significantly(nearly 2 full months).

 

[Colorado Expat]

According to the USGS gauge at the dam, the lake level is already below 3529 as of 16 November, so technically the Bullfrog North Ramp is now closed to larger vessels. Who knows if anyone is actually enforcing this.

 

[Fickle River]

But of course you know that gauge reading has a low bias and is not the official BOR reservoir reading.

 

[Colorado Expat]

But of course you know that gauge reading has a low bias and is not the official BOR reservoir reading.

The gauge at the dam is the datum I would use, because I trust the USGS readings more than I do those of BOR, given that USGS basically runs all the gauges in the Western US. But BOR can go with whatever numbers they want. The question is, whose numbers will NPS use, since they control the ramp.

 

[Fickle River]

These are the official readings. End of discussion.

40-Day Data | Water Operations | UC Region | Bureau of Reclamation

 

[John P Funk]

From the September 30th Weekly Low Water Update:

"Dear Partners:

1. Future Ramp Operations at Bullfrog: Lake levels are slowly declining but for the most part lake operations remain status quo. Boaters in North Lake Powell should remain vigilant of lake levels because the Bullfrog North Ramp will no longer be operational for houseboats and larger vessels once the lake levels reach 3529 (ft. above sea level) and below. The lake elevation has been slightly above 3529 for the past 3 updates. As of September 29, the lake level is 3529.44. Once 3529 is reached, no launching or retrieving of houseboats and/or large vessels will be permitted at the Bullfrog North Ramp. Water level statistics are available 24/7 at this website: Changing Lake Levels - Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)."

The hyperlinked site above references the current 3529.12 level(BOR lake level). Considering that they haven't made an announcement to close the ramp to houseboats, it seems clear that they are using their own elevation as driving the decision. I expect an announcement early next week, as they will likely allow it to remain open for one more weekend as the level crosses over the target elevation.

 

[John P Funk]

Weekly update: BOR sent out their notification that houseboat launch/retrieve has ended. Current anticipated closure date for "small vessels" puts it just past the end of the year. 39 days from today at current rates. As we've seen, storms can play a role in extending that date, but it's extremely unlikely to remain open for spring fishing.

 

[Dorado]

Weekly update: BOR sent out their notification that houseboat launch/retrieve has ended. Current anticipated closure date for "small vessels" puts it just past the end of the year. 39 days from today at current rates. As we've seen, storms can play a role in extending that date, but it's extremely unlikely to remain open for spring fishing.

The dirt ramp last year was not that bad. Hopefully intrepid anglers will locate a spot for Spring launching!

 

[Squirrel]

The dirt ramp last year was not that bad. Hopefully intrepid anglers will locate a spot for Spring launching!

And it would be nice if the NPS would maybe drop some rock/fill where this ultra low water primitive ramp is located so we all can use the lake before the Ex ramp gets wet. Last year was the first year in 25 plus years that my boat didn’t launch at Powell. Very depressing. Sq

 

[tt600]

If the water is falling makeshift ramps can get very muddy. It takes a few weeks for the newly exposed land to firm up. Of course this depends on the type of gravel/silt underneath. There is a nice homemade ramp at South Cove in lake Mead.

 

[nzaugg]

I don't know why they can't chase the bottom of the Bullfrog north ramp extension with ramps as well. It puts a lot of houseboats in jeopardy to not have a way to retrieve the boat.