Work has been completed on a remodeled boat ramp at Arivaca Lake southwest of Tucson, but there’s just one problem: The ramp is unusable because it’s completely out of the water.
Lack of rainfall has left the lake several feet below normal levels — and more rain is the “critical factor” needed to get the lake back to normal and the ramp into use, said a spokesman for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
The lake, which normally covers 90 acres and has an average depth of 28 feet, “is considerably shallower now — probably 5 to 8 feet below normal,” said department spokesman Bill Andres.
“So now the ramp is there, but the water is below it,” Andres said. “It looks like it needs at least a couple of feet of water” to make the ramp operable.
He said the lake is open to anglers and other visitors even though water levels are low.
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“The lakeshore is open to pedestrian access and boat launching where possible,” Andres said. He noted that power boats are limited to gas or electric trolling motors of 10 horsepower or less. While launching boats will be a challenge until the lake refills naturally, the fishing reportedly is good.
“We’ve seen some good-sized lunker largemouths (bass) taken lately,” said Ron Christofferson, boating facilities program manager for the Game and Fish Department. “Water levels are low, so until we get a good amount of rainfall, there’s no place for the big fish to hide.” Recent improvements at the lake, in addition to the boat ramp, include a boat courtesy dock, new sidewalks and boat trailer parking spaces providing barrier-free access. Cost estimates for the work, which were paid for with state and federal boating access funds, weren’t immediately available.
