Amador County – The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management announced last week that a new Mokelumne River access point along State Route 49 is now open for launching boats and kayaks along the river.
BLM’s David Christy in an email last Wednesday said the new Big Bar put-in and take-out facility for boaters opened to the public Aug. 29. It has restrooms, an interpretive kiosk and 18 parking spaces, all built along the Calaveras County side of the river, below the Highway 49 bridge.
Called the “Mokelumne River Whitewater Trail Big Bar Launch,” the access improvements were funded by the California Department of Boating and Waterways.
BLM Mother Lode Field Office Associate Manager Jim Eicher said the BLM “began exploring the idea for a recreation facility at the site about 25 years ago.” He said the “Luchetti, Zumwalt and Nessler families later agreed to lease the property, which had been in family ownership since the 1800s, for a boating facility.”
Eichler said it “opens up more recreation opportunities,” and it is “safer and avoids” having people “trespass on private property” to gain Moke River access. The scenic parking lot can be reached with a right turn from either direction on State Route 49, and the access driveways circle down toward the bank, where the 18 parking spaces, including a handicapped marked space, line the hillside, downhill from Highway 49, which winds up toward Mokelumne Hill.
The project was announced in late April 22 and was expected to start in early May and finish in late August. The asphalt paved lot has parking stripes and a restroom building, and a sign that labels it the Big Bar Access Point. The earthen berm along the river bank side of the parking lot is fortified with rocks, and two trails lead to the river bank whitewaters.
The Mother Lode Field Office is located in the Central California District office of the BLM, based in El Dorado Hills.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
