News from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.
Nov. 25, 2008 - Vol. 38, No. 533
For more information, contact Roy Miller, Fisheries, (302) 739-9914; or Melinda Carl or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, (302) 739-9902
DNREC Opens New Lewes Boat Ramp at Roosevelt Inlet
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will open the new Division of Fish and Wildlife boat ramp located just outside the City of Lewes at the northern end of Pilottown Road Thursday morning, Nov. 27 in time for Thanksgiving Day weekend.
The boat ramp accommodates nearly three times the number of vehicles and trailers that could be parked at the division’s old Lewes Boat Ramp, which will be demolished to make way for continuing construction of the Lewes Canalfront Park.
The new facility has three double-wide launch ramps and a striped parking area that will accommodate 128 vehicles with trailers and 17 single vehicles without trailers. One of the large parking areas and two of the smaller ones are striped for extra wide vehicles and trailers. Four stormwater retention basins encompassed within the parking area drain stormwater back into wetlands.
The boat ramp is handicap accessible with sidewalk access to the parking area and has an 8-foot wide river walk along the Broadkill for disabled visitors and for strolling and boat watching. In the spring, the river walk will be planted with two types of Spartina marsh grasses to help control soil erosion. Stormwater basins also will be planted with warm weather grasses next spring.
“Other than our plantings and the arrival of most of our signage, the facility is ready to go,” said Fisheries Administrator Roy Miller, noting boaters have been eagerly awaiting its opening. “The new boat ramp eliminates a 20-minute no-wake-speed boat ride each way from downtown Lewes to Roosevelt Inlet,” Miller added.
“This is one of the larger boating access facilities on the East Coast, and we’re very excited to be able to provide this kind of service in one of our busiest launching areas,” said Division Director Patrick Emory, noting the new ramp is one of more than 40 ramps statewide that the division operates.
The boat ramp is designed for daily boat launching and is a carry in-carry out facility.
A formal ribbon cutting will be held for the facility later this year.
For more information on the Division of Fish and Wildlife’s boating access areas, please visit DNREC’s website at http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/fw/fisharea.htm.