For Immediate Release

Date: April 16, 2004

Marine Board Adopts Boating Improvement Projects

The Oregon State Marine Board approved over $1 million in grant requests for recreational boating access projects on Wednesday, April 14, during a regular board meeting in Gold Beach. The projects range from a $7,687 grant for boarding floats at Ochoco Lake in Crook County to a $111,500 grant for a boat ramp improvement at Wallowa Lake in Wallowa County.

"This slate of projects is addressing a backlog of maintenance issues that have been on the back burner in recent years because of a lack of funds," said Ron Rhodehamel, Marine Board Facilities Program Manager. "We're very pleased that we're back on track. These and other projects we've helped fund this biennium will make boating safer and more enjoyable for boaters across the state."

Funds for the grants come from boat title and registration fees and motorboat fuel tax revenues. The board has now approved nearly $5.3 million in grants since June of 2003. This compares to $3.4 million spent during the entire 2001-2003 biennium. The increase in facility grants reflects additional fees paid by boaters to register and title boats beginning in 2004.

Grant requests approved by the board are listed below:

Galesville Reservoir, Douglas County, self-adjusting floats $44,500

Project will replace old self-adjusting boarding floats at Chief Miwaleta Park on Galesville Reservoir. The floats will help serve expected visitors at a new 20-30 space campground now under construction at Chief Miwaleta Park. The Marine Board approved $11,475 for boarding floats in 2003. Total Marine Board funding for the project this biennium is $55,975. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife contributed $34,425 in federal Sport Fish Restoration funds, and the applicant provided a cash match of $17,100. The project will now have enough funding to install new boarding floats on both sides of the ramp.

Diamond Lake, Douglas County $44,000

The US Forest Service in partnership with Douglas County will use the $44,000 in funds to augment previously funded projects at Diamond Lake. The funds will allow replacement of the Thielsen View launch ramp, and will upgrade existing facilities at the North Boat Ramp restroom so it meets Americans with Disabilities standards. These projects complete a four-year effort to improve boating access facilities at Diamond Lake. The $44,000 grant is in addition to a $60,000 grant in 2003 to improve the ramp at South Shore. The Forest Service and Douglas County have provided $126,000 in match for the projects since 2003. Other projects completed in recent years include an $11,580 grant to extend the ramps on "C" and "M" loops and Southshore, and a $25,720 grant for boarding floats at Thielsen View.

Coastal kiosks, statewide $35,000

Funds will pay for fabrication of kiosks for a set of three boating information panels that will be placed this spring at 15 locations along the Oregon coast. The panels feature information on crossing the bar, aquatic nuisance species and maps on coastal access points.

Port of Alsea, Lincoln County, boarding floats $32,000

Boarding floats at the Port of Alsea in Waldport will soon be replaced with funds from the $32,000 grant. The current floats were installed in 1991 and are heavily weathered and worn and in danger of failure. The new floats will meet ADA specifications.

Scottsburg, Douglas County, piles $25,000

These funds will pay for installation of previously purchased boarding floats at Scottsburg Park on the Umpqua River. The boat ramp at this location was widened and extended several years ago, but contractors hit bedrock when trying to install pilings to anchor the floats to. New techniques in drilling pilings into bedrock now allow the pilings to be installed so the floats can be anchored.

Mercer Lake, Lane County, boarding floats $20,000

Lake County will use a $20,000 Marine Board grant to install ADA accessible boarding floats at Mercer Lake near Florence. The floats will reduce launching delays at this busy and popular coastal lake.

Ochoco Lake, Crook County, boarding floats $7,687

The board approved funding for two additional boarding floats for the Ochoco Reservoir boat ramp. The floats will greatly increase the usability of the ramp during low water periods. The site received a new parking lot, launch ramp and boarding float several years ago.

Port of Brookings, Coos County, restroom/shower $55,750

Port of Brookings will build a new shower and restroom with funds approved by the board. The current facility is over 40 years old. The new facility will be built adjacent to Basin II which accommodates recreational boaters as well as some commercial fishing boats. Overall project cost is $111,5000, with Port of Brookings to provide $55,750 cash match.

Takelma Ramp, Jackson County, launch ramp, parking and vault toilet $95,100

Boaters launching in the Rogue River near Shady Cove will benefit from funds approved to replace the aging asphalt ramp and gravel parking area at Takelma Park. The facility is located on an important fishery that is heavily used by anglers. The current ramp ends before the ordinary low water line. The board funded a vault toilet at the facility in June of 2003. Overall cost of the project is $124,000, with the county providing $28,900 cash match.

City of Salem, Riverfront Park transient tie-up $81,250

The Marine Board approved an $81,250 grant to the City of Salem to help fund construction of a transient tie-up, with pilings and gangway, at Riverfront Park on the east bank of the Willamette River. The small, existing tie-up is not open to the public. The tie-up will be 226 feet long, with 114 feet designated for recreational motorboats. City of Salem will completely fund the remaining section, which will provide space for the Willamette River Queen and Polk County Marine Patrol. Overall cost of the new riverfront development is $1.6 million.

Lane County, Richardson Park transient tie-up $91,900

Two new 8-foot by 120-foot transient tie-ups will be installed at Fern Ridge Reservoir in Lane County with funds approved by the Marine Board. The $91,900 grant will place the floats at Richardson Park, located at the northwest corner of Fern Ridge Reservoir off Clear Lake Road in Junction City. The park features a marina, reservable sheltered group picnic area, day use area and campground. Total project cost is $96,900, with Lane County providing a $5,000 cash match.

OYCC, Summer 2004 youth projects $53,428

The Marine Board has long supported the Oregon Youth Conservation Corps by providing grant funds for projects that benefit boaters. The Board approved $53,428 for five projects that will benefit 21 boating facilities. The funds will employ 29 youth and five crew leaders. Crews will also receive safety training from marine patrols, as well as environmental training from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists. Projects include the following:

· $13,817 to construct four wood boarding floats and the concrete abutment for the South Shore launch ramp on Suttle Lake. They will also define boat trailer parking areas at North Wickiup and Lava Lake boat ramps.

· $10,497 to repair and paint restrooms, and stripe parking lots and ADA stalls at Armitage, Baker Bay, Richardson, Orchard Point, Mapleton Landing and Hendricks Bridge facilities in Lane County.

· $10,000 to work at six boating facilities in Josephine County. Crews will stripe the boat trailer parking areas, designate ADA stalls, and rebuild pedestrian access to the ramp, restroom and parking areas. Improvements will be at the Pierce Riffle, Lathrop, Whitehorse, Ferry Hole, Robertson Bridge, Hog Creek and Ennis Riffle facilities.

· $9,114 to repair docks at Meldrum Bar, repair and paint restrooms at Meldrum Bar and Cedar Oak in Clackamas County. Crews will also remove overgrown landscaping and invasive species.

· $10,000 to work at Owhyee Reservoir Dam and Cherry Creek and Bully Creek ramps. Youth will assist marine officers in replacing the buoy line by the dam, install an interpretive sign about the spillway that includes boating safety information, replace decking on boarding floats and add rub strips at all county owned boating facilities.

State Parks, Jasper Point restroom, $75,000

Oregon State Parks & Recreation will use a $75,000 grant to replace a two-stall vault toilet with a prefabricated four-stall flush restroom/shower building at Jasper Point State Park at Prineville Reservoir. This is one of the most heavily used boat access points in Crook County. Of the $75,000, $2000 is from the federal Clean Vessel Act program.

City of Nyssa, Nyssa Flush restroom $86,000

The Marine Board approved $86,000 to the City of Nyssa to replace a two-stall vault toilet with a prefabricated two-stall flush restroom at the Nyssa Park boat ramp. Nyssa Park is located on the Snake River within the Nyssa City Limits. The boat ramp is one of the most heavily used ramps on the Snake River. The current vault toilet is 20 years old and in need of replacement. The new toilet will meet ADA standards.

City of West Linn, Bernert Landing flush restroom $110,000

The City of West Linn will use a $110,000 grant approved by the Marine Board to replace the aging flush restroom at Bernert Landing. West Linn has brought this request to the board in prior years but it was deferred because of a lack of funds. Bernert Landing is the first boat ramp above the Willamette Falls at Oregon City, and it is the city's largest and most heavily used park. The current restroom is heavily deteriorated and in urgent need of replacement.

Wallowa County, Wallowa Lake ramp $111,500

Wallowa County received approval of their $111,500 grant request to complete construction of the launch ramp at Wallowa Lake County Park. Water skiers and boat anglers heavily use the site. The ramp was replaced in 1998 in anticipation that dam construction would result in the lake level being lowered. When dam construction was postponed, the final portion of the ramp was not completed. Funds will pay for placement of pre-cast concrete plans to increase usability and safety of the facility.

Port of The Dalles, port boarding Floats $84,925

A grant of $84,925 will be used by the Port of The Dalles to replace aging boarding floats along both sides of the Port launch ramp. The existing concrete floats are suffering structural failure.

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