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Drought closes Mosquito boat ramps
CORTLAND
Boat launch ramps off state Routes 305 and 88 at Mosquito Lake were closed Tuesday due to drought- reduced water levels.
“It’s not high enough for boats to be launched safely,” Dan Jones, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers public affairs officer, said.
The water level at the Corps-owned lake, which averages 9 feet deep, is more than 3 feet below normal for July.
The closed Corps-operated launch off state Route 305 is on the east side of the lake, near the Lakeview Recreation Area in Cortland.
The closed ramp off Route 88 is a state-run launch on the east side of the lake, where the water depth is only 2 feet and falling.
A state park news release said that ramp is expected to remain closed for the remainder of this year’s boating season, until the area is dredged or there is significant rainfall.
Boat launches that remain open are at the state park marina and campground on the west side of the lake and at the Causeway Sporting Goods on the east side of the lake off the Route 88 causeway.
Other privately-owned launches are either closed or soon to close, a ranger said.
Whether launches are open or closed depends on the water depth at the launch site and the length of the ramp, the ranger added.
The low lake level is not likely to threaten full availability of water supply from Mosquito Lake for the city of Warren, said Dianne Kolodziejski, Corps resource manager at the lake.
Water levels are lower than normal for July at all of the area’s Corps-owned lakes, specifically Berlin, eight feet down; Kirwan, more than 6 feet down; and Shenango, more than 2 feet down.
Lake Milton is only 6 inches below its normal summer level because of a water level maintenance agreement between the Corps and the state.
The state owns Lake Milton and operates a state park there, but the Corps regulates that lake’s dam outflow into the Mahoning River.
The Corps has warned boaters and swimmers throughout the region to beware of underwater obstruction hazards, such as sandbars and tree stumps, which are closer to the surface than normal because of this year’s reduced water levels.
The Corps said this year’s low water levels were caused by the lack of snowmelt and insufficient rainfall.