Boat ramp repair - temporary dam?

[gallobg]

Out community has a small 400 acre lake and the boat ramp fills up with sand every year. About mid-season it becomes difficult to trailer in/out with sand mounds and pockets on the ramp. It’s mostly due to a beach across the lake and the natural flow of water towards us.

We try to clear the sand in the fall using a bobcat or shovels but we can only get so much removed depending on how far the lake level has dropped.

Does anyone have any personal recommendations or experience with a temporary dam that we could erect around the ramp to clean it out and make concrete repairs? Also open to any other suggestions. I have searched on the web and found many options, but most are for larger municipal projects.

 

[Scottintexas]

I wonder if a stronger water pump to vacuum the sand or the pressure to push the sand at least away from the ramp would work

 

[WREKS]

Do you have any pictures of the problem?

 

[gallobg]

This is the only picture of the ramp I have on hand, I can get a better one later. The two docks on either side of the ramp can be removed. Ideally we would make a U-shaped barrier going out 15-20 feet into the lake to totally expose the ramp and clean/repair it.

 

[gallobg]

Thanks also for the advice about the pump or fan to blow the sand away. That is an option we are considering although we don’t currently have power here yet. We’re probably another year away from that.

 

[Scottintexas]

How deep is the water 20ft out?

Have you looked up a coffer dam? You might could do it with plywood

 

[Scottintexas]

I think you could rent an industrial pump and it probably is gas powered

 

[g2griz]

We use a gas-powered pump to clear the sand on our HOA ramp.

 

[gallobg]

Do you mean that you use a water suction pump to remove the sand at your ramp? Any tricks worth knowing?

 

[WREKS]

It looks like a public launch. As you say, natural currents can transport sand/sediment to that area. If you have a lake association it would be good to get some advice on what it would take to maintain that area or how to prevent having to dredge it on an ongoing basis. Sometimes municipalities maintain such areas. Are there other places to launch on the lake?

 

[Liveto99]

This is a mud sucker pump it works on gas no electric needed. You can pull about 25 percent sand and it will flow with the water. You can rent it with the suction and discharge hose. It will work great. There are many different manufacturers that make these.

 

[gallobg]

Thank you - a mud or trash pump sounds like a solid idea. I’ll check that out.

 

[motomandan]

How Does Underwater Suction Pipe Works - Underwater Construction

Figure 2-35. Sample air lift pumping mud. Pipe will buck at start up and if inlet is plugged, diver requires communication with surface. Figure 2-35. Sample

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