Stevenson beach

railgrab · Since 29 Mar 2005 177 Posts Seattle, WA Stoked

I read a blurb in the Kiteboarder that Stevenson will be seeding the kite launch with a new beach? Anybody know more details about this?

Ethan

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6548 Posts Couve / Hood Site Lackey

I remember hearing something like that over a year ago, and that they were interested in making it more appealing to kiters. The new bathroom and kite piercing pylons are the only changes I have seen though.

Sure would be sweet if there was some sand down there, I wonder how they'd keep it there though.

Mark · Tue May 16, 06 9:08 pm

Rumour has it that the old Stevenson Coply wood mill it going to be taken over by slingshot. They are going to make a kiter beach.... (before town, closer to the bridge of the gods)
~M

kiteboard117 · Since 02 Mar 2005 450 Posts PDX McLovin

i was thinking a thick rubber mat or a little flat floating peir could cover up those rocks. just about destroyed my feet launching last weekend.

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

Yea Tucker, a rubber mat would be awesome! Just don't want slippery, water-based plant species growing all over it!

importracer9 99 · Since 27 Oct 2005 296 Posts Obsessed

wind is good

pdxmonkeyboy · Tue May 30, 06 11:24 am

It would be an incredible challange to create a beach at Stevenson. You would need some kind of inwater gabion to create a backwater for the sand to remain there. Down river may be a different story. There are some "beaches" farther west.

You will also need the folowing permits to do any work in the Columbia River...
1. A section 401 permit from the Corps of engineers
2. A section 404 permit from the washington department of ecology
3. An HPA permit from the washington department of fish and wildlife
4. A shoreline of the state permit from department of ecology (received from the city of stevenson).
5. Crtical areas permit from the city of stevenson
6. And an approved biological assesment reviewed by national marine fisheries and U.S. Fish and wildlife service.

Fun huh? Your realistically looking at a year to recieve the appropriate permits. Since I work as an environmental consultant and doing said reports and applying for the permits is what I do, I would be more than happy to provide my services pro-bono or at a very reduced rate.

So if SS or anyone else is planning on doing something, have them give me a call.

Brian Bieger
The Resource Company,Inc.
360-693-4555

Cheers!!

Mark · Tue May 30, 06 12:41 pm

pdxmonkeyboy · Tue May 30, 06 3:01 pm

Is there someone I should talk to over there?

I really don't feel like cold calling someone.....

Thanks,
Brian

Mark · Tue May 30, 06 3:48 pm

I put in a call to Slingy. The contact name is:
John Ratchye
509-493-3979

Slingshot Sports
65435 HWY 14
White Salmon, WA 98672
United States

Good luck and thanks for helping! Thumb's Up

Mark

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4907 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Spoke with a kiteboarder at Stevenson that works for the port (I think it was Keith Chamberlain - Operations & Facilities Manager) he said things got put on hold because the sand would disrupt potential salmon habitat.

I told him I never once saw a salmon launching at Stevenson. You might be more persausive.

http://portofskamania.org/staff.htm

pdxmonkeyboy · Tue May 30, 06 4:26 pm

Thanks for the contact info Mark. I sent an e-mail to "general info" but I'll give your guy a call.

It is quite a bit more complicated than the sand degrading salmon habitat but I do get the drift of what your saying.

I HIGHLY doubt the salmon are laying eggs in the launch rocks at stevenson as they are the wrong size, so that is a plus. But, since the Columbia is verified habitat for ESA fish, and a naviagable water of the state, basically everyone and there brother has to review what you are proposing.

Interfluve, Inc. out of Hood River is really the people to talk to about how to get and keep sand on the beach. They have hyrdo-geomorphologists and the like that can estimate flow rates, current patterns, sheer stress, all the cool stuff. Anyone know people over there?

IF, and it is a big if, there is someway to convince the COE that the beach is part of a salmon habitat restoration plan, then permiting would be way streamlined. But, I just don't see how you could spin it.

Anywho, I'm prattling on and on I'll give them a call and see what the story is.

Smile

Ryan · Since 14 Jul 2005 536 Posts Oregon Addicted

monkeyboy,

I work for a consulting firm here in pdx and would offer my services as well to the new launch cause. I mostly do stormwater analysis and design but have experience in stream and river modeling. I expect most of the work will be permiting and getting the proposal in the right hands and working to get them to review it. however, perhaps i can help you and put together a small team along with SS staff to get this going. I do know SS has some local help from the Stevenson Port so thats a plus to have local support.

anyhow, PM me if you want to discuss.

cheers,

ryan

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu Jun 01, 06 8:43 am

I've traded e-mails with the slingshot owner. We are going to get together and talk over possiblities once they move out to Stevenson. They apprantly have the support of the port but from a permitting standpoint, the City of Stevenson wil likely have the decision to hand us the red tape or not.

Stay tuned and in the mean time, toughen up your feet for the existing launch Laughing