Grahams Island Boat Ramp Raised Once Again Due to Flooding

• Boat Ramp

The Grahams Island boat ramp that's already been raised five times because of Devils Lake flooding is getting raised again.

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DEVILS LAKE (WDAZ-TV) - The Grahams Island boat ramp that's already been raised five times because of Devils Lake flooding is getting raised again.

The park raised the ramp to 1,454 feet last year, and it just barely stayed above water this summer.

After raising the ramp four more feet this fall, park officials are hoping they won't have to raise the ramp again.

With the ramp under construction, some park visitors have to rethink where to launch their boat.

"It had to be done, I mean it's kind of a pain in the butt at the moment because you can't use it," park visitor Dale Thompson said.

"There really won't be much use of the ramp through the rest of the season," manager Henry Duray said.

But the park is trying to move fast so the ramps can be used by next spring.

"By the time we're done this fall it will be ready for use, it won't be what the public is used to but once we get the pavement all done that will be exactly what they want," Duray said.

Duray says the ramp has to be ready in case the water goes up.

"The ramp is probably the most critical item in the park besides our campgrounds because 80 to 90 percent of the people that come here come here to fish," Duray said.

With the Grahams Island ramp being raised this fall, the lake should be ready for boats next spring, even if the lake continues to go up.

"Grahams Island is on the list of the last ones that have to be raised up." Devils Lake tourism director Suzie Baisch said. "So we should be next spring 100 percent on our boat ramps."

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