CLEWISTON — At the April 14 meeting of the Hendry County Board of Commissioners Planning and Community Development Director Ryan Alexander discussed a proposal for a new public boat ramp within the downtown LaBelle slow-wake zone that would expand access to the Caloosahatchee River.

The existing boat ramp facility in LaBelle is operating at or beyond capacity during organized events and peak season. Recent fishing tournaments have reportedly brought more than 100 boats which create strain on the current infrastructure and create a safety hazard for participants.

County staff conducted a review of several potential sites for the new boat ramp along the corridor and evaluated them for environmental sensitivity, cost-effectiveness, and compatibility with surrounding land uses.

This map shows the proposed boat ramp location for Caloosahatchee River.

Hendry County GIS Department

Planning and Community Development's proposal states the following advantages of the proposed site:

• Proximity to downtown, enhancing visibility and support for local businesses.
• Direct access to the established slow-wake zone, improving safety for mixed recreational uses.
• Ability to accommodate tournaments with appropriate design for staging and parking.
• Opportunity to incorporate low-impact development techniques, including minimizing impervious surfaces and preserving the existing tree canopy.

Several members of the public expressed concern regarding the proposed placement of the gate entrance, which would be on Riverbend Drive. The board explained that this is simply the first step and that no decisions are being made at this point. Planning and Community Development is simply seeking the support of the county commissioners to initiate coordination with the South Florida Water Management District to begin the formal review and permitting process.

The board voted and agreed to send the proposal along to South Florida Water Management District.