Lake Roosevelt National Park - Gates everywhere!!!

[KFhunter]

What's up with NPS Lake Roosevelt putting in and locking gates at all the boat launches everywhere?

I been using this lake year around for decades, they never needed any gates before.  One NPS guy said it was for lower water levels making the launch pad out of water, and boaters driving off the end of the pad.   This is BS, the pads are way under water in many of these launches.   Then the guy said it was for "habitat disruption"   

It's for enforcement and budget plain and simple, pinch everyone into the Kettle Falls marina, easy to check for stickers, easy to check fish, and less driving up and down the lake emptying trash cans, pumping toilets, plowing launches etc. 

But why now?


Some good waterfowl spots are a long run between  now open marinas!

[GASoline71]

Wow... we use Roosevelt multiple times a year as well. Are you saying all the launches gated as of right now?  Or the NPS is in the process of installing gates?

Gary

[10Key]

Yeah, which ones are gated? I know you are upriver from us down in Seven Bays, but are they gating down there too? Headed over after Christmas and wanting to do a New Years ride.

[Southpole]

The China Bend launch has a gate in front of the ramp. I thought that was weird.

[KFhunter]

I don't know about all the launches, smaller ones like french rock, china bend, hags etc gated and locked. 

I'll find out more here soon


I'd be pissed show up at a launch to waterfowl and its gated when its always been open for decades, no public input or comment periods

[Knocker of rocks]

Is this in real time and does it indicate that water level is uniformly high enough?


https://www.lrf.org/recreation/boat-launch-lake-levels

[buckfvr]

I don't know about all the launches, smaller ones like french rock, china bend, hags etc gated and locked. 

I'll find out more here soon


I'd be pissed show up at a launch to waterfowl and its gated when its always been open for decades, no public input or comment periods

Its simple, why should there be public input when you guys arent smart enough to contribute ?  Keep your comments to yourself, "we" know whats best for you fools.

Eventually, theres gonna be a fight.

[KFhunter]

Is this in real time and does it indicate that water level is uniformly high enough?


https://www.lrf.org/recreation/boat-launch-lake-levels

Yes, the excuse of backing off the pad was just bs

[Knocker of rocks]

Is this in real time and does it indicate that water level is uniformly high enough?


https://www.lrf.org/recreation/boat-launch-lake-levels

Yes, the excuse of backing off the pad was just bs

Don’t be too harsh. They may not be in the know and it’s a common human trait to proffer some sort of answer in leu of “duh, I don’t know”.

It will be interesting to find out what is really going on

[rasbo]

Keller is open, water is plenty high

[Knocker of rocks]

This site seems to indicate that a few launches are below minimums, and several others are close.

https://gcdvisitor.com/boat-launch-accessibility-on-lake-roosevelt/

[KFhunter]

Is this in real time and does it indicate that water level is uniformly high enough?


https://www.lrf.org/recreation/boat-launch-lake-levels

Yes, the excuse of backing off the pad was just bs

Don’t be too harsh. They may not be in the know and it’s a common human trait to proffer some sort of answer in leu of “duh, I don’t know”.

It will be interesting to find out what is really going on

Noted, realize he wasn't the one calling the shots

[KFhunter]

This site seems to indicate that a few launches are below minimums, and several others are close.

https://gcdvisitor.com/boat-launch-accessibility-on-lake-roosevelt/

Even if the pad is out of the wster or close, you can still launch a kayak, gated means closed

[Knocker of rocks]

I wouldn’t be able to know that. It sounded like the launch was closed as a launch, not as a put in or place to park and walk to the water. Is it actually “no entry “?

[Ridgeratt]

Just throwing this out there. But since the ambient temps are very close to freezing. The boat launches turn into a bobsled run during this time of year from folks blasting out of the lake and water flowing off the trailers as they leave. Maybe the NPS is trying to keep folks from sliding into the lake. I have watched people chained up between trucks to pull one up the launch.

[KFhunter]

I wouldn’t be able to know that. It sounded like the launch was closed as a launch, not as a put in or place to park and walk to the water. Is it actually “no entry “?

That's kinda the point of this thread is to figure out what's going on, and why. 

Had a buddy ranting up a storm about all the locked gates.   I been at work so haven't tried to waterfowl or fish

[Naches Sportsman]

Everyone needs to contact their federal legislators with phone calls and emails regarding this no matter who the user groups are. Anywhere you’re seeing recreation sites locked up, say something and tell other people to complain even if they’re bird watchers!

Can’t speak for here but the hiring for federal land management seasonal jobs is piss poor due to people making more money working elsewhere. The starting wage for a seasonal rec tech to clean toilets and rec sites is barely above the WA minimum wage.  Stagnant wages and lack of affordable housing are the primary causes. Easier solution is to lock things up which is sad!

For non fire seasonal jobs, places are lucky to see a dozen names on the hiring cert generated by the h.r departments. It’s a cluster ….

[Knocker of rocks]

Shouldn’t everyone wait on a reason for the closure?  A web search shows that a few launches are in fact below pool minimum, and a couple of others are within inches of their pool minimum.

[KFhunter]

Shouldn’t everyone wait on a reason for the closure?  A web search shows that a few launches are in fact below pool minimum, and a couple of others are within inches of their pool minimum.

That hasn't prompted them to put in gates and shut them in past years

[Knocker of rocks]

Is todays closure the issue or is the past on trial?

[wags]

You mean to tell me none of you guys have every heard of battery powered die grinders?

[KFhunter]

You mean to tell me none of you guys have every heard of battery powered die grinders?

Well, I'd rather not get hooked up for destruction of govt property

[KFhunter]

Is todays closure the issue or is the past on trial?

You like to argue, is it a favorite entertainment outlet of yours?

[pickardjw]

You mean to tell me none of you guys have every heard of battery powered die grinders?

Well, I'd rather not get hooked up for destruction of govt property

And you know they'd enforce that. Only the homeless and drug addicts get to commit crimes with no penalty!

[Knocker of rocks]

Is todays closure the issue or is the past on trial?

You like to argue, is it a favorite entertainment outlet of yours?

Is this not a discussion forum?

[buckfvr]

My money is on they expect you to believe and accept what ever lie they throw at you.  My personal default is to NOT believe a word they say after decades of lies being exposed over the years.

[highcountry_hunter]

You mean to tell me none of you guys have every heard of battery powered die grinders?

This was my first thought haha. 4 1/2” cutoff wheel makes quick work. But it still doesn’t answer why they’re closing them in the first place


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[chukarchaser]

They are closed for "an abundance of caution"  which creates choke points and easy enforcement.  The ramps I saw after Thanksgiving where locked but could have been safely used by appropriate boat sizes. 

[Southpole]

I see the China Bend gate is re opened.