Corps' work affects new boat ramp

To the editor:

The Missouri Conservation Department recently finished improvements to the Red Star boat ramp on the Mississippi River. This is the only river access during low water for fishermen, pleasure boaters, emergency personnel and towboat operators picking up employees. This improvement is long overdue, but it has been put in jeopardy by work that the Corps of Engineers did at Cape Rock.

Approximately eight years ago, the corps installed weir dikes underwater to try to move the sand bar that normally develops at the Cape Rock bend, which has happened. The sand bar moved south along the bank on the Missouri side, which used to be the channel and had deep water. Now it is the shallow side. Deimund Sand Co. is now out of business. A long sand bar has developed past the foot of the ramp. During low water of less than 10 feet, it is almost impossible to use the new ramp. The corps' attitude is that it is responsible for commercial navigation and is not concerned about its actions related to other river uses.

This side of the river needs to be dredged to provide the depth need to access the ramp. A permanent solution needs to be worked out with the corps to either remove the weir dikes at Cape Rock or modify them. If nothing is done, the Missouri side of the river will completely silt in. This reminds me of the abandoned ramp and marina at Trail of Tears State Park.

This affects a lot of people who use the river access, including emergency personnel.

THOMAS C. HOLSHOUSER, Cape Girardeau