Waters disappearing: Boaters, anglers struggle with effects of drought

By Kevin Woster, Journal Staff Writer | Saturday, September 04, 2004

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HOT SPRINGS — Officials at Angostura State Recreation Area are hoping for a busy Labor Day weekend, after a dry summer where falling water levels closed all but two boat ramps on the lake and left some popular fishing spots high and dry.

Assistant park manager Steve Papendick said Friday that most of the park's 167 campsites were filled for the weekend. But visitation has clearly been hurt by the low water levels through the summer, he said.

"Day use has been way down, primarily due to the low water," Papendick said. "We're hoping to have a good, busy weekend and that the cooler weather won't deter people from coming out."

Like most lakes in the western half of South Dakota, Angostura has shriveled under the effects of drought. The lake is more than 21 feet below full and holds only 52 percent of normal water storage for the end of August.

Seven boat ramps are out of the water. Only two special low-water ramps continue to operate.

There is still plenty of water for recreation, but boaters should watch for sandbars and stumps that emerged as the water fell.

"There's certainly plenty of reservoir usable for boaters," Papendick said. "There have been sandbars and islands coming up out of the water. No matter where you are on the lake, you just need to use caution."

Low-water ramps remain open in the north marina and between Horsehead Campground and Hat Creek Campground in the south unit in the park.

But even with the low ramps, Terry Mayes and his brother, Larry, of Rapid City have taken their fishing elsewhere.

"We've abandoned Angostura. Our traditional fishing places there were all high and dry, so we weren't very successfully," Terry Mayes said Friday. "It's a real challenge fishing down there now."

Mayes said he and his brother have been catching walleyes at Orman Dam near Belle Fourche, where getting on the water is the most difficult part of a fishing trip. Orman, which is much more affected by irrigation than Angostura, is only 22 percent of full and about 60 percent of normal for the end of August.

Because the public ramp at Orman is out of the water, boaters must launch from a sandbar near the dam. That is tricky for even smaller boats, Mayes said.

"I was out there far enough so that all four pickup tires were at least half under water before I could float the boat," Mayes said. "We have to get thigh-deep in the water to push the boat off."

High-country boaters at Pactola Reservoir, which is down more than 16 feet from full, have an easier time reaching the water. The south boat ramp is low enough to be a problem, so boaters are advised to use the north ramp, which is in good shape.

Boaters headed for popular Lake Oahe on the Missouri River will find priority boat ramps open and usable. State parks officials kept 13 ramps in the water this summer, including Minneconjou, West Shore, Spring Creek and Cow Creek in the lower reservoir.

Oahe is at a record low but probably won't drop much lower, state Parks Division assistant director Bob Schneider said.

The best news is that low water levels are allowing unusable ramps to be extended farther, so they'll be more reliable in the future, Schneider said. The Parks Division is doing work this fall on Lake Oahe ramps, as well as the main marina ramp at Angostura.

"We'll extend that primary ramp this fall, probably in October, which should put us in better shape next year," Schneider said.

Contact Kevin Woster at 394-8413 or kevin.woster@rapidcityjournal.com