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Washington Evening Journal
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Washington, IA 52353
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Bonnifield Lake in Fairfield has new boat ramp
FAIRFIELD – Fairfield residents have a new and improved way to put their boats into Bonnifield Lake.
The city recently completed the construction of a new boat ramp on the northwest corner of the lake, which is on the north side of Fairfield inside Waterworks Park. The ramp is accessible from the B Street trail head.
Fairfield City Engineer and Public Works Director Melanie Carlson said the new ramp replaced the old ramp that was near the southern edge of the lake. The old one had a couple of problems, she said, such as being too steep and being inconveniently located since it was too close to the road leading to the water plant.
“There were problems where the water department was trying to get in and out, and somebody was parked there pulling their boat out,” Carlson said. “When there’s a water main break, everyone wants to move as quickly as possible, and sometimes there was a hold up.”
The new boat ramp has a more gradual decline than the old one, so boaters should find it easier to load and unload their boats. Carlson said it was tricky to find a place along the lake that had decent road access and wasn’t too steep.
“Cross-country runners run out there, too, and we wanted to make sure we were not disrupting their course,” she said. “I know that’s why we couldn’t put something closer to the beach, and it’s a lot steeper there anyway.”
The boat ramp does not cross the Fairfield Loop Trail but it does cross a grass walking trail around the perimeter of the lake, so both boaters and walkers should be mindful of that.
The lake just north of Bonnifield Lake, Pleasant Lake, should receive a new boat ramp later this year, too. The Nady Conservation Committee is spearheading a project to revamp the boat access to the lake, on the east side, by laying fresh gravel, widening the ramp, and placing more rock where the ramp touches the water so that boats have an easier, more gradual descent. That will allow the DNR to perform water testing and check fish stocks at the lake, which it currently cannot do.
The current dock will be replaced with an aluminum plank, and will extend 10 feet further into the water. The new dock will have an apparatus so it’s easier to launch a kayak from the dock, too.
Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com
