Oregon State Marine Board News Oregon's Recreational Boating Agency P. O. Box 14145 Salem, Oregon 97309-5065 Phone: (503) 378-8587 Fax: (503) 378-4597 Media Contact: Randy Henry, ext. 247     Home Page:  www.osmb.state.or.us

Boaters Will Find Improved Facilities This Season

"We've completed over the winter, or will soon complete, a number of facilities improvements across the state," says Dave Obern, Facilities Manager for the Oregon State Marine Board. Projects included everything from ramps to restrooms from Gold Beach to Astoria to Wallowa Lake.

Funds for these projects are generated from recreational boating dollars, registration fees and marine fuel taxes. No general fund dollars are used to support Marine Board programs. In addition, the Board cooperates with the Department of Fish and Wildlife using federal "Sportfish and Restoration" dollars (angler and boater excise taxes) to assist with improved motorboat access.

A sampling of the 30 boating access projects completed around the state this past year includes:

Coastal Access Projects

• Airport Ramp, Yaquina Bay, Port of Toledo - A new single lane concrete launch ramp and floats was completed in January 1999 with the help by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) using federal Sportfish and Restoration funds.
• Cullaby Park, Cullaby Lake, Clatsop County - Replaced old restroom with a new ADA accessible flush restroom. This project completed in cooperation with federal Sportfish and Restoration funds provided by ODFW. Look in the future for new ramp, floats and paved parking area.
• Gold Beach Marina, Rogue River, Port of Gold Beach - Look for a new paved boat trailer parking area and upgraded marine fuel station to be completed by early summer. In the planning and permitting stages is an upgrade to the ramp and floats.
• County Ramp, Nehalem River, Tillamook County - A recently extended water line across the bridge will allow a new flush restroom to be constructed at this popular ramp. A major overhaul of the ramp, floats and parking area is planned in the future.

Portland and Willamette Valley Access Projects

• Eastbank Tie-Up, Willamette River, City of Portland - A new transient boat tie-up that is part of the new eastbank river walk will be completed by early summer. Next will be completion of a public restroom in conjunction with the new mounted police stables followed by completion of the river walk to Tom McCall waterfront park.
• M. James Gleason Ramp, Columbia River, Metro - The master plan for a complete overhaul of the ramp, parking area, entrance road, marine patrol headquarters and more was completed and now final site engineering is underway. Look for a series of improvements to occur over the next few years at the second largest ramp in the metro-area.
• Thistle Creek Ramp, Green Peter Reservoir, Linn County - A new low pool ramp 650 feet long was completed this winter that will allow year around boat access for fishing in the reservoir. This is another ODFW Sportfish and Restoration cooperative project. This is the final phase of improvements that included new toilet, paved expanded parking and floats.

Southern Oregon Access Projects

• Klum Landing, Howard Prairie Reservoir, Jackson County - To be completed by early summer is a new paved parking area to be followed over the next few years with a new flush toilet and ramp upgrades. Bureau of Reclamation is a principal funding partner in this effort.
• East and West Ramps, Cooper Creek, Douglas County - Both ramps now have new boarding floats. Future improvements will include flush restrooms and paved parking.
• Hog Creek Ramp, Rogue River, Josephine County - Improved ramp maneuver area, access road and toilets will be completed by early summer. This is a cooperative effort with ODFW using federal Sportfish and Restoration funds.

Eastern Oregon Access Projects

• County Ramp, Thief Valley, Union County - New concrete boat ramp, expanded gravel parking area and toilets just completed. A cooperative Sportfish and Restoration project with ODFW. Next will be floats at the ramp ready for anglers at this popular fishery.
• County Ramp, Wallowa Lake, Wallowa County - Major upgrade to the launch ramp only partially completed due to high water. Work should be completed over the next year along with a parking lot expansion. This is a cooperative effort with ODFW using federal Sportfish and Restoration funds.
• Jasper Point, Prineville Reservoir, St. Parks Department. Complete upgrade just finished to include new concrete ramp, floats, and paved parking area. This is a cooperative funding effort with the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife and Bureau of Reclamation.

Updated 05/14/99