Looks Bad For Viney And Possibly A Few Others.

[Hunter53]

If I remember right; isn't long creek where that big bass tourny is supposed to weigh in? Isn't bass pro a big sponsor of it? If so I am sure bass pro will figure out a way to keep it open.

[dtrs5kprs]

Bo had it right last week. Truck + chain = moved rock and open ramp.

Absolutely.

[Craig]

I was at the meeting and one point the corps people asked some questions about was keeping the launch open that is at the entrance to viney. There is no gate at the park at this time. They first said they would put a gate where the road to the park starts, blocking both ramps and the park. They did ask question about the feasibility of gates at the kiosk where you pay. I took this to mean they may look at not blocking access to the first boat ramp. I’m posting a copy of the comment form they had at the meeting. I hope some of you would send one in supporting keeping Viney open. They said this will be decided within a mounth.

It was also mentioned that Sen. Boozman of Arkansas is proposing a bill to allow the corp to keep the money they collect and not put it in the general fund this would maybe give them more money to operate with. Lots of ways to spin this comment. I’m going to try to get more info about this.

formViney.pdf

[Bill Babler]

Yes, Craig I prepossed that to them, but I think after you left there was talk about who would maintain the road, ramp and mow the grass. They answered almost every question with a question and I'm going to say had their minds made up before they got there.

As for trashing the parks, they are always open thru the Winter months from October thru March without supervision, and they seem to be fine. Of course it is mainly just us fisherman types using them.

I believe we as a nation are going to have to take responsibility for not destroying public property. If we had any kind of decency and would not ruin, clutter and leave trash, this would not even be an issue.

Can the answer be as simple as to leave something better than you find it?

There is an email address on the bottom of the form that Craig listed. If you would all take the time to send an email to

rodney.a.raley@usace.army.mil Make sure you get all the friggin dots in there. One on both sides of the a

I believe the only hope we have is to address the issue of keeping the ramps open. It is the only access that is paved and secure on about a 20 mile lake section on the South East Side of the lake. I am pretty sure the camp ground is a moot issue, but we may as Craig hoped be able to keep the back ramp open.

If you would please address this issue in a courteous manor it could do nothing but help.

Thanks.

[dblades]

Joe Bald has been closed for years and they never needed a gate on that road or mowed the grass. What's different about now?

[Bill Babler]

Neither is H hwy, but throwing up a gate and closing it down is the easiest deal for them and they are going to try and make that so. As I said, they answered each question with a question and were pretty intent on their plan. I just sent a letter to Rodney hoping but we'll see

[Feathers and Fins]

This might sound stupid but the AGFC ramp and 12 Bridge is open on Beaver Lake year round. It has no trash cans no bathrooms no picnic tables nothing but ramp and parking lot. Seems to me ACE could simply leave the gate open and let people launch at their own risk. Put up a sign that says unmaintained access users use facility at their own risk problem solved at least for use.

The bigger problem comes with the simple fact this is government. A very simple solution ( and yes I can hear the complaints about to come ) Is Raise the cost for use of the area to $10.00 per car and $15 per boat for those who do not have the sticker. If you buy a sticker at say Tablerock the money stays at that lake if you buy it at beaver the money stays there. I know on any given summer weekend I will see 2 to 300 people at Prairie Creek ramp area each day of the weekend. 6000.00 a weekend generated just at one park. I know they mow 3 times a year nice article earlier this year about that and if they are paying someone more than 1,000.00 for each mow they are insane. If I would guess and that all it is I would say these lakes could generate a million dollars a year easily at just the parks.

How about raising the fee for all those dock as well? Say 100.00 per slip per dock think of how much that would generate. We shouldn't have to as these are public lakes but I would guess all said and done ACE could generate several million a year off each lake and keep the dam money generated in that lake.

Or better yet take ACE out of the picture and allow private enterprises to manage the parks with fixed prices for ramps. Million ways to keep it open if you don't close your mind and try and make people suffer so they bitch to their politicians.

[Quillback]

This is interesting, they are "partially" closing a COE park on Blue Mountain lake in Arkansas, but leaving the ramp open. Same office (Little Rock) controls both Viney and the park in Arkansas. So if they can leave one ramp open, why not the other? Link below:

http://www.swl.usace.army.mil/Media/NewsReleases/tabid/7165/Article/21384/corps-to-host-workshop-to-discuss-lick-creek-park-partial-closure.aspx

[Fishin Hodge]

Sent an email to Rodney. I have never been to Viney, but by golly I may decide to one day. Blocking access to public property as well as most things the Corp is involved with makes my blood boil. Goverment shutdown closures came to my mind.

I tried to be civil, but man is it hard to do with the Corp. We the people are being infringed upon. If we don't stand up for ourselves we are going to be trampled.

Keep the cutting torch handy my friends.

[abkeenan]

This is interesting, they are "partially" closing a COE park on Blue Mountain lake in Arkansas, but leaving the ramp open. Same office (Little Rock) controls both Viney and the park in Arkansas. So if they can leave one ramp open, why not the other? Link below:

http://www.swl.usace.army.mil/Media/NewsReleases/tabid/7165/Article/21384/corps-to-host-workshop-to-discuss-lick-creek-park-partial-closure.aspx

Because RPS, then they really wouldn't have time to fix the Healthcare.gov website.