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The City of Kemmerer, the Joint Powers Board (JPB), the Wyoming Game and Fish, and the Rotary Club of Kemmerer have identified an issue at our local reservoir. The City of Kemmerer Reservoir non-motorized boat ramp project aims to create a safe, sustainable, and easily accessible launch point for non-motorized watercraft. This initiative addresses local public access shortages and helps protect nearby sensitive river habitats.
Currently, the reservoir has limited public access and is intended for non-motorized watercraft only. Lake Viva Naughton feeds into the City of Kemmerer Reservoir and allows for motorized watercraft. This whole area is very busy year-round with outdoor enthusiasts. The Wyoming Game and Fish is reviving the reservoir for public use, and the boat ramp is a small piece of the big picture. Recently, public access to the rivers below the reservoir has been eliminated, thus causing no public access for non-motorized watercraft. Allowing the public to use the reservoir will provide a safe and secure place for kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, rowboats, and rafts. Between Lake Viva Naughton, the City of Kemmerer Reservoir, and the rivers below them, there are over 100 people a day all summer who use these recreational areas. This project will allow us to safely accommodate all the outdoor enthusiasts.
The boat ramp is a vital component of the broader efforts by the City of Kemmerer, the Joint Powers Board (JPB), Wyoming Game and Fish, and the Rotary Club of Kemmerer to revitalize the reservoir for public recreation. These key improvements and strategies include the construction of a dedicated, non-motorized boat ramp and the incorporation of culverts to ensure safe water flow and drainage during construction. The project will also provide safety and education signage installed to guide the public, clearly outline reservoir rules, and promote water safety. This will also protect the habitat by providing a distinct recreational area that reduces foot traffic and pressure on sensitive nearby river ecosystems.
Because the Joint Powers Board (JPB) and Wyoming State Dam Safety Engineers are actively addressing structural deficiencies in the reservoir's primary spillway, current water levels allow for a unique opportunity to construct the new boat ramp while water is diverted. The timeline for this project will be to start as soon as the project is approved and finish by the end of summer 2026.
The funds for this project will go to revamping the boat ramp for non-motorized watercraft, and signs to help the public know where to go and the rules of the reservoir and culverts to help with the construction of the boat ramp. The boat ramp is just a small portion of all the efforts made by the City of Kemmerer, Joint Powers Board, Wyoming Game and Fish, and The Rotary Club of Kemmerer. Rotarians will provide essential volunteer labor by clearing weeds and spreading fresh gravel around the new ramp, directly enhancing the usability of the shoreline.
This is a huge project that will make the reservoir and surrounding areas much better for everyone.
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