On Oct. 14, 2006, TBF members from Meridian, Idaho, along with Bruce Cameron, marine deputy of Owyhee County, Idaho, accomplished repairs to the launch ramp at Black Sands on C.J. Strike Reservoir.
C.J. Strike Reservoir is located about 25 miles from Mountain Home, Idaho, and is heavily used by tournament fishermen, pleasure boaters and weekend anglers. The launch repair project was done to prevent further damage to boat trailers when launching at this site.
Over the past few years, ends of the concrete ramp had broken off, which in turn created large drops where trailer axles would fall. With the use of a dump truck from Meirs Trucking of Grandview, Idaho, concrete pipes were brought to the ramp and broken apart by equipment loaned by Idaho Backhoe of Caldwell and Eagle, Idaho. Once crushed, the concrete was pushed to the end of the ramp with a tractor loaned out by Campbell Tractor of Nampa, Idaho. Large cobble stones (river rock) were then hauled in by truck and spread across the head of the ramp. The stones were then pushed down by the tractor to fill the gaps left in the concrete.
Although the project was not a perfect fix, the new construction should allow even very large boats to launch at this location until Idaho Power or the Bureau of Reclamation draws down the reservoir. When that happens, it is anticipated that a new concrete ramp will be constructed.
C.J. Strike has been the site of many habitat projects conducted by bass fishing clubs as well as the Idaho Bass Federation. Structure plants in the Bruneau, Idaho, arm of the reservoir have allowed many weekend anglers days of enjoyable fishing in that area.
Idaho TBF members on hand during the ramp project included Dan Campbell, Don Boeger, Tony Schuyler, Bill Wright, Steve Kass, Mike Neill, Jim and Jeremiah Price, and Bruce and Cindy Flesher.
Idaho TBF members also want to thank Meirs Trucking, Campbell Tractor and Idaho Backhoe for use of their equipment to accomplish this project. A special thanks also goes out to Bruce Cameron of the Owyhee County Sheriffs Department for heading up the project.