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Park Board debates phased construction at Blacktail Dam, boat-landing priority and campground access
Summary
Williams County Park staff and board members debated whether to shut Blacktail Dam park entirely for reconstruction or to phase work to keep some facilities open, with staff recommending engineers evaluate building a new boat landing early to preserve access.
Jeremy Ludlow, a Park staff member, told the board the Blacktail Dam reconstruction schedule is still being finalized and presented two main approaches: shut the park completely to complete work faster and cheaper, or phase construction to keep some areas open while work proceeds. He said design milestones aim to allow bidding next year and that the county is coordinating with the Army Corps of Engineers, Game and Fish and contractors on sequencing.
"The most efficient money wise, time wise way to do it would be to shut the whole thing down. Shut it down and build it up and go through it as fast as we can," Ludlow said, then added that he wanted board guidance because full closure would disrupt campers and other users.
Board members raised public-notice and operational concerns. One member urged extensive communication so users would not be “angry and upset.” Members asked whether the boat landing and some camping could remain accessible; Ludlow said the design team is studying options, including building the new boat landing closer to the park entrance (which could be prioritized) and creating temporary primitive campsites in other park areas to retain some overnight capacity.
Ludlow said the park currently has about 60 reserved RV sites and that holiday weekends can see many additional campers on private lots (board members reported counting as many as 30–40 private campers on some holidays). He noted potential friction with Game and Fish because the existing launch was installed and has an ongoing working agreement with that agency.
Contractor Ryan Anderson (project point of contact) has been engaged for schedule planning; Ludlow said he has also discussed emergency-access concerns with Ben White and with local Game and Fish staff. Board members asked staff to study a range of mitigations: designate temporary primitive sites, prioritize construction of the new boat landing to preserve public access, and keep at least the beach/swim area open if feasible.
Staff said they will continue design work and coordinate with engineers on sequencing; they will also prepare reservation-system changes and a press release explaining openings and closures once the schedule is clearer. Ludlow said design deadlines for other projects are aimed at meeting internal targets: design completion for McGregor and Epping Springbrook by Dec. 1 and for Lisonbee by March 1 (to support an Army Corps submission on or before March 31). The board did not take a formal vote on closure or sequencing but directed staff to pursue engineering input and develop communications and reservation updates for the public.
The discussion closed with staff confirming they will press engineers on whether the new boat landing can be built first and will look into temporary primitive sites and keeping selected areas open while construction proceeds.
