Ocmulgee River Boat Ramp In Dodge County Reopens

County officials and Georgia Department of Natural Resources representatives recently celebrated the re-opening of the Ochise Landing Boat Ramp in Dodge County. This ramp will give boaters, paddlers and anglers improved access to the Ocmulgee River, and it will be an overall benefit to Dodge County.

This ramp originally was constructed by using concrete slabs taken from a nearby airport runway demolition project, and for several decades it has served as a county-operated public boat ramp. Since 2017, the facility has been under lease from Dodge County to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. There were challenges during the planning and construction phase, including flooding issues that delayed the renovation work. Once water levels returned to near normal, the ramp was able to be completed.

This facility includes a 16-foot-wide concrete boat ramp. The area has approximately eight parking spaces for trailered vehicles, plus five additional car spaces, with ADA parking also available. The area will be accessible to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This reach of the lower Ocmulgee River is particularly popular with anglers as species of bream, black bass, black crappie and catfish are common.

The installation of boat ramps improves access to waterways, helping facilitate fishing participation in Georgia’s exceptional fishing resources. Additionally, the availability of ramps in a community brings visitors to those areas, as well as increased economic benefit.

The Ochise Landing Boat Ramp is accessed from Highway 230 south of Hawkinsville (location coordinates 32.08335, -83.30028).

At the ceremony were (from left) Jamey Wilkinson (Dodge County Fire Coordinator/EMA Director), Burt Deener (DNR Fisheries Regional Supervisor), Allen Mills (Dodge County Code Enforcement), Brian Watkins (Dodge County Commissioner District 3), Karen Cheek (Dodge County Commissioner District 4), Jeff Bishop (DNR Boating Access Coordinator), Paula McCain (Eastman/Dodge County Chamber President) and Conner Bearden (Dodge County Manager). Photo provided by Cindy Eckles/Dodge County News.