| OSMB News |
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| Date: June 23, 2006 |
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Charleston Marina Dedication June 26
For Immediate Release
A formal ribbon cutting at the South Slough Estuary Reserve will mark the beginning of a new era for the Charleston boat launch facility, owned and operated by the International Port of Coos Bay. The facility dedication will occur at the South Slough National Estuary Research Reserve (SSNERR).
Thanks to a collaborative effort from the Marine Board, the International Port of Coos Bay, the Army Corps of Engineers, and West Coast Contractors, Inc., the Charleston ramp is now a state-of-the-art facility that will serve boaters for decades to come. The upgrades at the port include:
- New, longer, six-lane ramp
- 400 feet of new boarding floats
- Over 12,000 square feet of new concrete
- 11 new pilings
- 80 new concrete planks
Before the upgrade occurred, the 40-year-old facility showed obvious signs of wear-and-tear from rough winters and heavy use. In 1999, when planning for the upgrade was taking place, an underwater survey revealed extensive damage to the concrete ramp and sub-base. The lower end of the ramp was cracked and showed exposed rebar and jagged concrete –an obvious problem for boaters launching at low tide.
“This concludes several years of planning and funding challenges," said Marine Board Director Paul Donheffner. “This project is certainly one we can all be proud of. This will serve boaters for another 40 years or more.”
In order to fund the upgrade, the Port searched for additional partners and received funds from the Department of Land Conservation and Development through the federal Coastal Zone Management Act and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife –Sport Fish Restoration program. The Marine Board also awarded a grant for $263,000 toward the project. With the Port’s cash and in-kind service funds, the project upgrade has become a reality. The Charleston ramp is valued at over a half-million dollars.
Coos Bay is the second largest port in Oregon and offers the largest deep-draft coastal harbor between San Francisco Bay and Puget Sound. The ramp and parking area provide the only direct public access to the lower Coos Bay and the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve.
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