No issues expected with lake access

Lake Sakakawea is about six feet lower than it was at this time a year ago, causing some to wonder about access to the water should the trend continue during this very dry year. Well, according to the latest available information, popular boat ramps should remain in operation until freeze-up.

According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers June runoff outlook, Lake Sakakawea should peak just over 1,838 feet at the end of July before dropping to about 1,836 feet at the end of October. Even at that elevation all of the primary boat ramps on Lake Sakakawea should remain in service.

Runoff into the Missouri River system, according to the June 1 outlook, is very low this year. According to the Corps, runoff will be 17.9 million acre feet. That compares to the long-term average of 25.8 maf. The projections could change for the better or worse depending on a continuation of drought conditions or possible heavy rainfall over the drainage.

Inflow into Sakakawea is expected to reach nearly 38,000 cubic feet per second in the coming days before tapering off to less than 30,000 cfs by month’s end. Discharge through the power generating turbines at Garrison Dam is expected to remain at 22,000 cfs this month, meaning a slow rise will continue into July with more water coming into the reservoir than going out.

The big reservoir would have to drop many feet below current levels before any of the lake’s primary boat ramps would become questionable for use.

Here are the bottom elevations of several ramps on Lake Sakakawea:

Ft. Stevenson deTrobriand – 1,823 feet.

Ft. Stevenson Garrison Bay – 1,790 feet.

Sportsmen’s Centennial – 1,812 feet.

Camp of the Cross – 1,806 feet.

Dakota Waters – 1,797 feet.

Deepwater – 1,808 feet.

Indian Hills – 1,818 feet.

Government Bay – 1,810 feet.

Lewis & Clark – 1,809 feet.

Lake Sakakawea SP – 1,800 feet.

Van Hook new ramp – 1,825.6 feet

West Totten Trail – 1,810 feet.

Wolf Creek – 1,819 feet.