The Harvey Creek Boat Ramp on Rayburn is owned by the National Forest Service. After Hurricane Rita, the Forest Service quit maintaining it. For those of you that are familiar with it, the area used to be a pristine primitive camping area and a nice two lane boat ramp. Over the years it has fallen on rough times. The Forest Service no longer maintains it, and local residents have tried to keep up with policing trash etc. at the ramp. The Road in has Huge Pot holes, and the high water this spring has done severe damage to the ramp, to the point where right now it is a barely serviceable one lane ramp. If repairs are not made soon, it will not even be that. The importance of the ramp is that it is the only public ramp on the east side of the main lake, between the 147 bridge, and the dam. The Friends of Harvey Creek non-profit is being established in order to attempt to secure funding for repairs. In the short term, we would ask anyone who can, to write letters to their congressman (The local Rep for the area is Louie Ghomert) asking for their support in securing the necessary funding for repairs. The Forest Service maintains that it has no budgeted monies for recreation. One has to wonder why they would spend federal dollars on recreation areas around lakes, then quit maintaining them. We are also soliciting any help possible, whether it be physical labor to work on the ramp on work days, or Engineering and or construction support in the form of estimation of costs for repairs of the road in, parking lot, and ramp. If you can be of any help, please PM me.

I would like to see the ramp repaired and the campgrounds re-opened. It is the best location for mid lake access to the lake.

I just sent an email to my Rep asking him to encourage Mr. Ghomert to contact the National Forest Service and see if something can be done.

I did the same. It is a shame the Forest Service has no money to sustain the existing parks while they spend money on hundreds of radio and TV ads encouraging people to visit the forests. At the same time, they run people out of the forest with their restrictive rules.

Have you asked the core or the forest service if you raise the money that they will let you fix the ramp? I would like to see it in better shape again and would be willing to donate but I have to know if it can be done.

We have had multiple discussions with the Forest Service. What they said was we could get permits to do the work providing it meets their standards. We sent them pictures of what their standards are. We are working with the county, state, Forest Service and Corps of Engineers. Save your donations till we get further along. We are forming a Non-Profit and will be exploring fund raisers after we get formed..

There is a meeting tomorrow at 10 AM at the first Baptist Church in Broaddus to discuss progress.

They had passed control of the park to San Augustine county for a while. The county used jail inmates to collect the garbage and they provided portable toilets. There was a drop box for the camping fees. They didn't operate it for long despite the minimum expense to operate it. I wonder if they would sell the entire park?

They had passed control of the park to San Augustine county for a while. The county used jail inmates to collect the garbage and they provided portable toilets. There was a drop box for the camping fees. They didn't operate it for long despite the minimum expense to operate it. I wonder if they would sell the entire park?

What transpired at the meeting this morning?
Thanks

Thats my favorite ramp. The road has been in bad shape for a few years.I havent been back there in months since the water dropped.