Most Columbia Pool boat ramps reopen along the Ouachita River

VICKSBURG, Miss. – Six Corps of Engineers managed boat ramps on the Ouachita River have been modified and reopened along the Ouachita River above the Columbia Lock and Dam, located approximately seven miles upstream of Columbia, LA. The ramps were closed in August 2024, due to an emergency declaration at the Columbia Lock and Dam that required the lowering of pool levels.

Ramps were modified so they could be used during this time of low water conditions. However, they will continually be monitored, and the status of the ramps could change at any time depending on usage and flow changes in the river. Recreational users are encouraged to launch with caution while pool levels remain low. Boat ramps at the following locations have been reopened:

• Riverton Recreation Area
• Prairion Recreation Area
• Bawcomville Recreation Area
• Sterlington Recreation Area
• Finch Bayou Recreation Area
• Felsenthal South Recreation Area

The Moon Lake Recreation Area boat ramp will remain closed during this time.

The change has not significantly impacted commercial navigation, and the lock has continued to operate. 

As part of the declaration, the pool above Columbia Lock and Dam was lowered by approximately three feet, while the pool below the dam was raised by approximately two feet. This adjustment began on 20 August 2024, and has been maintained at those levels throughout the investigation. As a result of the investigation, it was determined that pool levels will remain at the restricted pool levels until the stability of the structure can be guaranteed. 

The USACE Vicksburg District is engineering solutions to the nation’s toughest challenges. The Vicksburg District encompasses a 68,000-square-mile area across portions of Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana that holds nine major river basins and incorporates approximately 460 miles of mainline Mississippi River levees. The Vicksburg District is engaged in hundreds of projects and employs approximately 1,100 personnel