With phase one renovations completed, the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) has recently reopened the public boat landing on Lewis Smith Lake in Cullman County. The facility is located on the northeast side of Ryan Creek and can be accessed free of charge through Smith Lake Park, which is located at 403 County Rd. 386, in Cullman, Ala.
Phase one of the renovation began in the winter of 2017 and includes a 90-foot-wide, six-lane launching slab and a paved parking lot with room for 113 truck and trailer rigs and 10 cars (with both make-ready and tie-down areas). The new facility is currently large enough to accommodate most local and regional fishing tournaments.
Phase two of the renovation is scheduled to begin this fall. Planned improvements include security lighting, a paved overflow parking lot for 70 truck and trailer rigs and two cars, one 45-foot stationary aluminum pier, two floating aluminum piers (225 feet and 170 feet), and a fixed aluminum pedestrian bridge connecting the overflow and main parking areas. When completed, the facility will be fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 2010.
WFF has leased the property from Cullman County for approximately 30 years to provide boating access to the public. In that time, demand for additional access to Lewis Smith Lake has continued to grow. To provide that increased access, WFF partnered with Cullman County to renovate the boat landing. Cullman County will handle routine maintenance of the facility.
The project was funded by the Sport Fish Restoration Program, which is supported through excise taxes on the sale of outboard motor fuel, fishing equipment, and the sale of state fishing licenses. For more information about this and other WFF public boating access areas, visit http://boatramps.dcnr.alabama.gov/ or call the WFF Fisheries Section at 334-242-3471.
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through four divisions: Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR, visit www.outdooralabama.com.
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