Main boat ramp closes at popular Nebraska lake

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The main boat ramp at one of Nebraska’s largest lakes is closed temporarily.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said it was shutting down the Gremlin Cove boat ramp at Harlan County Lake.

The Corps said the water level is too low, and too much sediment has piled up.

The lake elevation is at 1,935.6 feet, down from 1,936.14 feet last week.

Plus, about 3 to 4 feet of sediment has accumulated in the main channel, further reducing the depth.

Because of that, the boat ramp can no longer operate safely, according to the Corps of Engineers.

“We’re fortunate we made it this far into the season,” Tom Zikmund, Harlan County Lake operations project manager, said in a press release.

The Gremlin Cove ramp is the largest and most used boat ramp on the lake, which is the third largest in Nebraska.

The closure will also affect access to the North Shore Marina.

Officials said the Corps will try to remove sediment next week.

But the Corps said the best long-term solution is a dredge, which it has already secured funding for.

“The community’s support has been key, and we want everyone to know we’re doing all we can to restore and maintain safe lake access,” Zikmund said.