MUNCY ?Residents of the Muncy community are being urged by Rep. Garth Everett, R-Muncy, to take part in resolving the issue of the closure of the Muncy boat launch by writing to Gov. Tom Wolf to release funds for the project.

Everett said that the state Fish and Boat Commission would would be able to construct a new boat launch if state funds for $250,000 could be released from Act 52 of 2017 to get a new fishing and boating access ramp built on the Muncy Access of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.

“This is a popular recreation area for the entire region,” said Everett. “Since the closure of the ramp by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) in the fall of 2016, a great inconvenience has been caused to a number of outdoor sports enthusiasts.”

He also said legislators are in favor of the governor releasing the money which is allocated for capital projects such as the boat launch.

The boat launch was closed in 2016 due to a sandbar which formed near the site, which is located at the mouth of Muncy Creek. The access road to the launch runs off of Route 405 just before the bridge.

A new site is proposed for the launch on the same side of the river, but on the other side of of the bridge.

Everett said he had spoken with PennDot and they feel the cause of the sandbar is the bridge’s pier which slows the water down, causing the silt to build up there. By building the new launch downstream, this problem would be solved. “The silt does not collect there,” Everett said.

The owner of the possible new site has been contacted, he said, and is willing to sell the parcel needed for the new launch at a reasonable price.

Once the funding is acquired, Everett said he hopes the launch will be open for next season.

“All the engineering is done, there’s just the final stuff,” he said. “I’m told it’s shovel ready.”

Everett said he is hopeful that the governor will release the funds if enough people respond.

He noted the governor is up for re-election, so if more constituents send letters it would show him how important it is to the people of this area.

“This closure has had a negative impact on local shops and restaurants in the area,” Everett said in a news release. “I hope this can be resolved as soon as possible.”

The letter is available for download at Everett’s website, www.RepEverett.com.