New Boat Slips, Dock Improvements Completed at Howell’s Landing

By: Shelia Mader

Boaters and anglers using Howell’s Landing on Lake Seminole now have an easier time launching and retrieving their boats thanks to recently completed improvements at the popular public ramp.

Jackson County has added new floating docks and boat slips at the landing, expanding the facility’s capacity and helping reduce congestion during busy times.

Rett Daniels, Jackson County Deputy County Administrator, said the project added two additional floating dock sections with boat cleats, increasing the number of available slips from three to five.

“For many years we had just three pieces of floating dock that people could pull up to,” Daniels said. “This is a very popular landing for fishermen, tournaments, pleasure boating and recreation, so we’ve been working on making small improvements over the years.”

The new slips allow boaters to temporarily secure their boats while retrieving their vehicles and trailers from the parking area. Daniels said that the staging area will make launching and loading much more efficient, particularly during fishing tournaments or periods of heavy traffic.

“A lot of times, especially with tournaments or even thunderstorms, boat ramps get congested with people trying to use them at the same time,” Daniels said. “Being able to stage boats in the slips will be a big help and make the whole operation easier.”

Howell’s Landing is one of the county’s busiest ramps on Lake Seminole, often drawing fishermen, recreational boaters and tournament participants.

The dock expansion project cost approximately $65,000 and was fully funded through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Florida Boating Improvement Program (FBIP) grant.

Although the grant funded the construction, Daniels said county staff still worked through a lengthy process that included permitting and coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which operates Lake Seminole, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Those permitting requirements also limited the overall size of the dock system. The project had to remain within a maximum area of 750 square feet, which determined how many slips could be added at this time.

Installation of the floating dock system was completed quickly once construction began. The dock manufacturer installed the sections in about a day and a half, assembling the modular pieces on site.

County officials say the improvements are part of a long-term effort to upgrade public boat landings across Jackson County.

Future plans for Howell’s Landing include exploring options for additional parking and other amenities to accommodate the increasing number of visitors using the facility.

“We want to keep expanding and improving the user experience,” Daniels said. “We’re taking it one step at a time as funding becomes available.”