Fort Smith (Jul 03/06) - Some pieces of community infrastructure - pipes and stuff - are supposed to be underground. But not a boat launch.

That's where, as of last week, Fort Smith's boat launch has been since the spring break-up of the Slave River. It is beneath up to a foot of river silt and shoreline gravel moved by ice.

"The whole thing is buried. It can't be used," says boat owner Norman Dievert.

Dievert thinks the whole launch should be removed and replaced with crushed gravel.

The cement and concrete launch was built in 2004 for about $33,000 and funded by the marine division of the Department of Transportation.

It was constructed so vehicles could back boat trailers into the water without getting stuck in the sand and gravel along the shore. The area has been used for decades to put boats into the water.

Mayor Peter Martselos says the boat launch is maintained by both the Department of Transportation and the town's public works department.

"We have to do some maintenance and I guess we are behind on that," Martselos says, adding he will see to it that the launch is cleared.

The town did take driftwood from the area after the spring break-up, but the water was too high to uncover the launch, the mayor notes.

Dievert says part of the launch was built at the wrong angle though.

It starts out at the right angle on the shore, but flattens out too much as it enters the water, he says.

The launch can be used with no problems during times of high water, but trailers go off the end before a boat is in the water when the river is at low and medium levels, he explains.

While agreeing water levels affect the launch, Martselos does not think it has to be replaced.

"We have to look at things and see how it can be improved," he says, adding he welcomes input from boaters.