Officials Hope New Salton Sea Boat Launch Ramp Will Help Struggling Recreation Area

MECCA, CA - A boat launch ramp and public access point to the Salton Sea State Recreation Area in Mecca will be officially reopened Thursday during a ribbon-cutting event that organizers hope will help bring back the public.

The launch ramp, closed for three years, was reopened through a public- private partnership between California State Parks, the Salton Sea Action Committee and San Bernardino-based construction firm DEVCO.

The ramp was closed as construction crews dredged the lake in an effort to make up for the ever-receding shoreline, which prevents larger boats from accessing its waters. The ramp sits on the lake's eastern shore at Varner Harbor, which also was closed during the dredging process.

Proposals to restore the lake have included bringing in water from the Pacific Ocean and other water sources. Boaters have made occasional excursions out onto the water in canoes, paddle boats and other smaller vessels.

The California Department of Parks and Recreation initiated a "soft opening" for the ramp in January, and hopes the revamp helps draw in more than 200,000 visitors annually.

– City News Service; Image by Renee Schiavone.