(16/10) TRENTON – The Department of Environmental Protection plans a series of improvements for boating and parking access this summer at the Round Valley Reservoir boat ramp in Clinton Township, Hunterdon County.

Heavy traffic at the boat ramp on summer weekends in recent years due to increased interest in kayaking and paddle-boarding, along with use by traditional users such as boaters and anglers, has resulted in crowded conditions at the ramp.

Ongoing work at the reservoir, to be completed this month, includes an expansion of the boat ramp parking lot to allow for easier maneuverability of vehicles towing boats, and access to additional shoreline for those that wish to hand-carry their boats to launch.

“Round Valley Reservoir is truly one of New Jersey’s greatest outdoor recreation areas,” said Richard Boornazian, Assistant Commissioner of Natural and Historic Resources. “These improvements will greatly enhance the opportunities for anglers and boaters to access the reservoir, while at the same time help to alleviate crowding issues at the boat ramp.”

Other improvements scheduled this year will expand the lower gravel parking lot near the ramp. This additional space will allow vehicles towing boats to turn around and back down the ramp for the first time. Additionally, the added space will allow vehicles towing boats to park front end in, rather than parallel, creating additional parking spaces that would otherwise be occupied by a vehicle with a trailer parked along the edge of the lot.

A chain link fence at the end of the gravel lot will also be taken down and moved. Although vehicles will not be permitted in this area, boaters will be able to carry their boats, canoes, kayaks and paddleboards across the field to the reservoir’s edge to launch.  A new, more durable ramp made of concrete sections will be installed at the site of the current gravel launch by next summer.

The Division of Fish and Wildlife, which manages the ramp, has tried to alleviate crowding on summer weekends by hiring seasonal employees to ensure people accessing the ramp hold a mandatory valid fishing license or boat ramp permit.

The Round Valley Reservoir covers more than 2,000 acres and is approximately 180 feet deep. It has a water capacity of 55 billion gallons.

For more information about Round Valley Recreation Area, please visit: http://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/round.html