The new Doris Point boat launch and day-use site opened to the public on a dazzlingly sunny Aug. 19. For reservoir recreaters, it comes as a relief.

Doris Point boasts the first dock on the Hungry Horse Reservoir, a boon for people who worry about damaging their boats on gravel launches. Doris Point has 70 parking spaces, many of them pull-through, toilets and a picnic area.

For years, reservoir users have parked their trucks and trailers along the narrow west-side reservoir road No. 895. The paved parking area should help open up the road.

"This renovated site greatly improves the accessibility of the reservoir for boaters," said Jimmy DeHerrera, Hungry Horse-Glacier View District Ranger. "What's really important to me as a boater is to have a dock. I don't want to damage my boat."

In addition, Doris Point improvements include a new double-lane concrete boat ramp with the loading and unloading dock located in the middle and a host site — the host will help maintain the site and provide visitor services.

Work on the Doris Point site began in the fall of 2009. Total cost of the project was just over $600,000. The forest service appropriated $320,000 and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided $290,000.

The project helped maintain local jobs.

Ureco Inc. of Columbia Falls was awarded the contract to refurbish the area.

"I feel fortunate we were able to get this project," said Dave Cheff, Ureco's vice president. "It was a great opportunity for us. It kept my guys busy in a time there were very few opportunities."

Doris Point was the first boat launch Ureco had ever done, which Cheff admitted presented some challenges.

"We did part of the boat launch last fall as the reservoir dropped," Cheff said.

We had to plow in the spring before the reservoir starting rising. Some of the more technical stuff we subcontracted to guys in the Flathead."

The site will be managed by Big Sky Recreation, the Flathead National Forest Concessionaire. Ê

"As a campground concessionaire, this is such a relief," said Charlie Jantzen of Big Sky Recreation. "This is a tremendous advantage to people staying at Lost Johnny campground. They won't have the constant flow of boat traffic. This will improve and enhance the experience of users of Lost Johnny. This facility, I've never seen better."

There is a $4 per-day per-vehicle fee at the site. Reservoir users can also purchase a $30 annual pass, which is good for all sites in the Flathead National Forest.

A 10-unit campground is also being constructed nearby and should be completed this fall. It is just one of more than 50 projects across the forest.

For more information please contact the Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District at 387-3800. For more information regarding other Recovery projects on the Flathead National Forest, visit www.fs.fed.us/r1/flathead. Ê