Boating access funds set for Sprague Lake

The $410,500 funding project announced by the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office for Adams County will be used for the fourth phase development at Sprague Lake for boating and fishing.

Project sponsor is the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. The project will be located off Highway 23 on Danekas Road.

Parts of the project will include a concrete surfaced breakwater jetty and fishing pier, ADA parking near the boat ramp, paved pathways, loading dock and gangway.

Basalt substrate, winter ice and prevailing winds have prevented the installation of a loading dock at the site. An anchor will be installed for the floating loading dock.

The rock and concrete jetty will be constructed to provide a wind break on the launch and additional fishing access.

The improvements will add to projects already accomplished with state funds which began with acquisition of 40 acres on the lake in 1998 and purchase of 636 acres and 39 more acres of lake shore with a conservation easement in 2000.

The $410,000 for the Sprague Lake project was among those announced by the Recreation and Conservation Office in July.

Improvement projects on the John Wayne Trail in Whitman County were announced at the same time. The trail project includes $100,000 funding from and Recreation and Conservation Office and $231,000 from private donations.

Sponsor of the project in Whitman County will be State Parks & Recreation which conducted hearings on trail plans at Malden, Rosalia and Tekoa in 2011.