Whether on Lake Sakakawea's north or south sides, resort and marina operators are promising business as usual when the boating and fishing seasons launch this spring.

While the level on the big lake continues to drop, ongoing or soon to start work on boat ramps at three popular spots is expected to keep ahead of the receding lake, which sat at 1,808.5 feet above sea level Friday, almost 8 feet lower than a year ago.

At Indian Hills Resort on the lake's north side, a new ramp will be operational to 1,790 feet, said Tolly Holtan, who was working the resort's booth Friday at the Bismarck Tribune Sport Show.

The extension work is being done by state Parks and Recreation, and "they are pretty aggressive on it being open," she said.

Ramp work also will be on tap for Dakota Waters Resort on the lake's south side, where dredging is expected to start next week, said Laura Heinsen, who owns the resort with her husband, Kelvin. Other ramp work, including pouring more concrete, will be done as needed, she added.

"We'll do everything we can to maintain access," she said Friday as she sat at the resort's booth.

At Fort Stevenson State Park, just south of Garrison, work is planned to extend the low-water ramp to 1,795 feet, said Dick Messerly, the park manager, who was manning the Sakakawea Country booth.

"We should be up by Memorial Day by the very latest," he said.

Memorial Day traditionally is the launch date for the summer boating season, although plenty of anglers trailer boats to their favorite ramps earlier.

Kelly Sorge, who owns Indian Hills Resort along with her husband, Dale, said work on the new ramp would begin at ice-out.

She is hoping a decent snowpack runoff helps return water to the lake.

"If we go to 1,812, the old ramp will be OK," she said, "but we will put the new ramp in anyway."

She is confident they will see plenty of anglers come spring and beyond.

"The fishery will only get better," she said.

The Bismarck Tribune Sport Show opens at 10 a.m. today and runs until 7 p.m. Sunday's hours are noon to 5 p.m.

(Reach reporter Richard Hinton at 250-8256 or outdoors@bismarcktribune.net.)