Because of the motorized-boating restrictions at the majority of southwest-Colorado reservoirs, McPhee Reservoir has seen an 85 percent increase at its boat-ramp inspection station from last year.
Prohibited motorboat-use has been enforced at area reservoirs recently to prevent introducing invasive aquatic mussel species, and McPhee is one of the few equipped with an inspection station that allows for motorized boats to enter its waters.
Because of the increase in motorized-boat traffic, parking areas and boat ramps have experienced heavy congestion at McPhee, especially on weekends. The Forest Service urges visitors to use parking areas and ramps as efficiently as possible to reduce congestion.
Boats should be prepped before they are launched from the ramp and directional traffic signs in the parking lots should be followed to ensure visitor safety. Boats that have not been cleaned, drained and dried will require decontamination procedures, and are urged to use inspection stations during the week instead of weekends. Weekend visitors should consider the House Creek boat ramp, often less crowded, as an alternative.
Those who visit McPhee without trailers hitched to their vehicles are asked to use overflow-parking areas to free up space for trailer-attached vehicles.
For more information, call Tom Rice at 882-6843.
