The boat-launching ramp at General Burnside Island State Park was closed Monday because the lake water had receded about 10 feet below the end of the concrete.

Corps officials say as the water level falls three and a half more feet to the destined 680 feet above sea level by February 12, only one launching ramp in Pulaski County may be in the water.

But there’s hope that some of the ramps will be extended for use during the seven years while work is underway to repair ailing Wolf Creek Dam.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is expected to get $2 million from the federal government in the near future to extend some 10 boat ramps and widen parking areas to make a drastically lowered Lake Cumberland more accessible to boaters and fishermen.

The lake level at 6 a.m. yesterday was at 683.63 feet. At this level, the end of the boat-launching ramp at the Burnside state park was high and dry. A yellow ribbon tied halfway across the launching area warned potential boat launchers of the sharp drop-off onto dry gravel at the end of the concrete.

“We’re trying to get a handle on that right now,” responded Craig Shoe, resource manager for Lake Cumberland, when asked about the number of boat ramps still usable when the lake level is lowered 43 feet below the tree line.

“It looks now as if Lee’s Ford (Marina and Resort) will be the only ramp usable (in Pulaski County),” said Shoe. Lee’s Ford spokesmen have expressed fear that their ramp will be overwhelmed with boaters trying to get in the water. They have asked for assistance in expanding their parking area.

The lake level is rapidly falling toward the 680 mark to ease pressure on Wolf Creek Dam, the massive earthen and concrete structure that has been classified as a high risk of failure.

The falling water level is already beyond the reach of most of the 48 ramps on the lake. Shoe said the Corps is working on the ramp at Waitsboro Recreation Area to see what can be done. Considerable rocks and sediment are at the end of the Waitsboro ramp and Shoe expressed doubt that it can continue to accommodate boats.

According to Peoples, the $2 million the Corps is trying to get has not yet been approved for use. He expects confirmation in the near future that the money will be available.

Chris Gilligan, communications director, Kentucky Commerce Cabinet, reiterated yesterday that the Lake Cumberland situation is ‘high priority” for Gov. Ernie Fletcher.

“The governor has authorized us to look for every bit of money we can find to assist in (approving accessibility) to Lake Cumberland,” he said.

Gilligan said said the Department of Commerce is working with the understanding that only eight of the 48 boat ramps on Lake Cumberland will be in the water when the lake level reaches 680. He indicated the Corps is trying to get money to improve 10 ramps, making a total of 18 ramps usable lakewide. There may be money from other sources to extend additional ramps.

A spokesman in Congressman Hal Rogers’ office said the new budget that President Bush presented to Congress Monday contains $54.1 million for the second phase of the repair work on Wolf Creek Dam. Some $51 million is in the current budget but this apparently has been used on a grouting contract awarded to a Canadian firm. Total cost of repairs to the dam is estimated at $309 million.