Low water levels in the Lewis River watershed are starting to affect boaters.
PacifiCorp last week announced that boat ramps at Saddle Dam Park, Cougar Park and Beaver Bay on Yale Reservoir will be closed until further notice.
Signs are posted at the closed boat ramps.
The ramp at Yale Park is open and provides boat access to the reservoir. Boat launches on Merwin and Swift reservoirs also are open.
Low snowpack and below-average spring rain means water coming into reservoirs managed by PacifiCorp is below normal for this time of year.
Reservoir levels, even without this year’s conditions, are subject to available inflows and downstream flow requirements for fish and aquatic habitat.
While reservoir levels always fluctuate, PacifiCorp said it recognizes the importance of recreational sites and the need to balance access with environmental requirements.
