The Crescent Ranger District is stopping the redesign and construction of a new boat ramp at Crescent Lake.
This pause in the process is due to multiple seasons of low water at the lake. The district says staff will re-evaluate the project as conditions improve.
An idea under consideration is modifying designs to allow for low-water launching.
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Here is the announcement from the Deschutes National Forest
Crescent, Ore— Due to multiple seasons of low water at Crescent Lake, the Crescent Ranger District will not move forward with construction of the redesigned Crescent Lake Boat Launch as originally planned in the Crescent Lake Boat Launch and Infrastructure Project.
Crescent Ranger District staff will reevaluate the project design under current and expected future conditions to provide improved low-water launching opportunities. The new design will maintain the original project’s goal of providing safe and timely boat launching under increased use levels.
The Crescent Ranger District initiated the planning phase for the Crescent Lake Boat Launch redesign in 2021. During the subsequent two seasons, Crescent Lake’s average water level has dropped 15.9 feet below the levels of the past twenty years. Years of severe drought in the Crescent Lake basin has resulted in low lake levels. It would take several years of well above average snowfall and precipitation to recover to more average lake levels.
Other aspects of the Crescent Lake Boat Launch and Infrastructure Project not associated with the boat launch itself may be implemented.
