Boaters see long lines, wait times, social distancing orders in return to the water again

On warm weekends like Saturday, it was easy to see lots of boaters making a run to the water. Many had long waits and had to practice social distancing, too.

Posted 2:14 a.m. May 17, 2020 — Updated 2:14 a.m. May 17, 2020

Adam Owens

, WRAL anchor/reporter

On warm weekends like Saturday, it was easy to see lots of boaters making a run to the water.

To accommodate social distancing, park officials in the Triangle said some parts or Falls Lake and Jordan Lake are closed right now.

Before boaters could get to the water on Saturday, they were landlocked in a line of vehicles and boat trailers. Kathryn Gohn and her family waited around an hour at Jordan Lake, where just three boat ramp sites were open and many more were closed.

"Brutal," Kathryn Gohn said about the wait to hit the water. "I don't know why they aren't opening more of the ramps."

People that came for a good time are having a tough time.

"I have been going to the ramps for 20 years and I have never seen it like this," said Brad Droese.

Droese said things can get heated. While at the ramp, there was another visitor who yelled in Droese's direction.

"Been using this ramp for 20 years, man," Droese said back to the other person. "I know what I am doing."

Kristen Woodruff with North Carolina State Parks said to follow COVID-19 safety guidelines, areas where people traditionally gather, including boat ramps, must be closed. She said staffing is limited to cover them all.

"There have been some conflicts there at boat ramps," Woodruff said. "There are swim beaches there, large picnic areas. By their nature, they cause congregations."

That was the similar situation at Falls Lake, where just one boat ramp site is open.

"So we have seen a lot of crowding in areas, much longer wait times than are normal, lines backed up," Woodruff said.

There is significant push-back to the rules. Petitions online are gaining signatures, calling for all ramps and trails at Jordan Lake to open. One of those petitions says “If we can be trusted to stay six feet apart and use the restrooms in hardware stores, grocery stores, ABC stores, post offices, police stations, and the like, we can be trusted to do the same in state-run parks and recreational areas as well.”

"This is a unique time and we are doing as best we can," Woodruff said.

Suggest A Correction