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U.S. Sen. Byron Dorgan met with about 30 people at the Hazelton Boat Ramp on Lake Oahe Sunday afternoon to discuss plans for the area.

In addition to holding the meeting in the ramp area, Sen. Dorgan toured the campground/park.

He said he was impressed by the facility improvements made by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local volunteers.

“This area is a very popular spot for recreational access to the Missouri River in the south-central part of the state,” Sen. Dorgan said. “I worked hard to help secure federal dollars to make improvements to the facilities here. This investment will make sure North Dakotans will be able to enjoy this site for years to come, and it will give a boost to our tourism industry and the economy of south-central North Dakota.”

Officials from Corps, including Oahe Project Manager John Bartel of Pierre, attended.

The meeting was coordinated by Lake Oahe advocates Rynee Kellar and Ron Kraft, both of Bismarck. They are members of the N.D. Sport Fishing Congress and Bismarck Reel & Rec. Kraft is also a member of Voices for Lake Oahe.

Kellar, who introduced Sen. Dorgan, outlined efforts made so far in getting improvements for the ramp area and the park/campground. Kraft pointed out areas of concern in the ramp and parking lot area.

Bartel said, because of the current drought and high fuel costs, usage of the Hazelton Boat Ramp has increased. He noted that Bismarck area fishermen are using the ramp, in addition to local fishermen, because it is closer (25 miles from Bismarck) than the sites they formerly visited on Lake Sakakawea (60 miles).

He noted that, during high usage times, the parking lot fills up, so pickups and trailers are parked along N.D. Highway 1804 or in an area across the highway.

Bartel said improvements in the campground began in Fiscal Year 2007 (Oct. 1, 2006, through Sept. 30, 2007) when electricity was added for 12 camp pads, new playground equipment was added and concrete pipe was purchased for the future expansion of the parking lot. The total spent in FY 2007 was $125,600.

In FY 2008, Bartel said $149,500 is being spent to install the concrete pipe and construct additional parking area to the south of the current parking area.

Of that amount, $50,000 will be used to finish the grading and prepare the surface for asphalt.

Proposed improvements in FY 2009 include continue the upgrades of the parking area, including paving it with asphalt. Projected costs are $300,000.

Bartel said the concrete boat ramp will be doubled in size, and buckling in the lower part of the ramp will be repaired.

Hadley Seeklander of Hazelton and the Missouri River Breakers Good Sam Chapter of Hazelton have put a lot of volunteer work into upgrading the campground and park over the past eight years and have been advocates of improvements.

A road will connect the campground with the boat ramp area, and the fish cleaning station will be moved to the new parking area. Dredging was done earlier to open the channel where boats access Lake Oahe from the ramp.

Kellar noted that further improvements will be possible when the South Central Rural Water District brings rural water to Emmons County. Water can be brought to the campground, and it will be possible to add modern toilets and possibly showers.

Other improvements discussed include the addition of a shelter for larger gatherings, clearing dead trees at the north end of the campground, planting new trees, adding more light poles and improving and possibly paving the campground roads.

Kellar and Kraft said they would like to see the boat ramp moved at least 100 yards to the south to avoid the sandbar problem, but that is not in the current plans.

Sen. Dorgan chairs the U.S. Senate’s Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee and secured $150,000 last year for the Hazelton Boat Ramp projects and has included another $300,000 in the pending appropriations bill.