This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The National Park Service is seeking public comments about proposed improvements to allow continued use of the state's ferry between the Bullfrog and Halls Crossing marinas as the average level of Lake Powell continues to fall.
The park service and the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) are proposing to extend access roads and improve ferry ramps to reach the retreating water line.
They say existing ramps can safely accommodate the ferry at a lake elevation of 3,610 feet. Over the past several years, lake levels have often dropped well below that, resulting in shortening the operating season and interrupting ferry service. Proposed improvements would allow the ferry to operate to a lake elevation of 3,555 feet.
Recently, the ferry temporarily was relocated near the recreational boat ramp in Bullfrog, creating congestion and risks for pedestrians and boaters. The move also increased the time, distance and costs for ferry trips. Improvements would address those problems.
The park service is preparing an environmental assessment to evaluate the proposals. It is accepting public comments online at parkplanning.nps.gov/lakepowellferry, by fax at 928-608-6204, or by mail to P.O. Box 1507, Page, AZ, 86040.
At a March meeting of the Utah Transportation Commission, UDOT officials estimated that extending the Bullfrog ramp would cost $1.7 million. The price tag for the Halls Crossing ramp was put at $540,000.
How to come up with that money is unclear. The commission asked UDOT to seek possible federal grants as it looks for ways to continue operation.
Also at the March meeting, UDOT also estimated that it needs about $1 million to buy and install a new engine and drive train in the aging Charles Hall ferry.
At that meeting, San Juan County Commissioner Bruce Adams said his county is willing to be a partner to keep the ferry operating — and to extend the ferry's schedule.
"We support this proposal 110 percent," he said. "We're passionate about this ferry. ... People expect it to be open when they come here from all over the world."
UDOT said that about a decade ago, it considered closing the ferry system to save money — but found it was important to local industries, the park service, tourists and others. So it continued the service but sold one of two ferries then operating to cut costs.
The ferry takes about 25 minutes to cover the 3.1 mile distance. By road, the distance between the marinas is about 140 miles on two-lane highways.