It's now easier than ever to float your boat at Peña Blanca Lake.
A new boat ramp opened Tuesday at the renovated lake northwest of Nogales.
"This new ramp means people will be able to bring bigger boats to the lake - boats that are transported by trailer and need a ramp to unload," said Mark Hart, a spokesman for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
The 50-acre lake, which was closed in 2008 and drained to allow a cleanup of dangerous chemicals, was reopened in August 2009 and refilled to full capacity by heavy rains last winter.
Since the reopening, anglers have had to fish from shore or use boats small enough to launch by hand.
The new ramp is 48 feet long and 22 feet wide. It can be used to launch motor-powered boats, but boaters are restricted to one electric motor or one gasoline motor of 10 horsepower or less.
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Other new facilities include a fishing pier and a parking area.
Officials said the cost of the project was about $600,000 with funding from a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant.
"This is a partnership project," said Shane Lyman, acting Nogales district ranger for the U.S. Forest Service. "The lake is on national forest land, but the ramp is paid for with Game and Fish funds."
Tuesday brought additional good news for anglers: Peña Blanca Lake was stocked with more rainbow trout.
About 2,400 trout were transported by truck from a hatchery to the lake.
Contact reporter Doug Kreutz at dkreutz@azstarnet.com or at 573-4192.
