Are there any trailer boaters on here from Huntington WV

[Last Dollar]

I need help organizing a movement to convince those in government that the city of Huntington WV has turned it's back on the trailer boating public. We had many good launch ramps in the 60's after the Greenup Dam was installed on the Ohio River. Actually 4 new ramps were constructed in the area and boating became a very popular activity. This continued through the 70's and 80's. Currently all the ramps have not been maintained and are totally unusable! I would like to organize all the local boaters to write their congressman or call the Huntington Parks office who has responsibility of maintaining these facilities and complain. Currently there are some plans in the works to construct a new marina and boating facility at the river front in Huntington but from what I have been told none of this is to improve the launch ramp or add a courtesy dock. Other small cities along the Ohio River offer good facilities but if you live in Huntington (who calls itself "River City") the closest launch ramps are miles away. HELP!!!!

 

[JimG]

I hate to hear that... when I first got my passion for boating, I boated out of Huntington with my brother-in-law. As I recall, we would put in at Kenova on the Sandy and ride it to the Ohio. We put in at the River Front a few times when there was races or other activities there. We would also trailer to Beach Fork or Grayson.

Are the launch ramps Corps owned or city?

Good luck!

 

[dvx216]

The Ohio River is a time capsule the bank have not changed since I was a kid and I'm 54 years old. I still put in at Newell Wv where my dad did with his 18' Holiday Starcraft at Kennedy state park and it has not changed one bit but the ramps there have always been great.I'm thinking the Army Corps of Engineers has a lot to do with it.Heck even the casino at Mountaineer park has not been developed.

 

[Last Dollar]

From what I've been told the ramp in question...mouth of Guyandotte River... is leased to the Huntington Parks and Recreation Board. Of course with EPA restrictions they are not allowed to push the sediments back out into the channel plus that would eventually fill in the mouth of the Guyandotte River. The Corps has always cleaned ramps after spring floods but only do it one time, usually right before Memorial Day. Now I've been told they may no longer do that. This ramp is currently unusable and will continue to be so. The ramp at Harris River Front in downtown Huntington has no parking for a long trailer and tow vehicle and no courtesy dock to secure the boat to. Onlookers and panhandlers frequent the area and will steal your fishing rods from the boat while you try to drive up to the floodwall to park. It's just a mess down there plus now new plans to develop and improve the area with a marina and facilities have no provision to help trailer boaters.