City of Salem, Lincoln, Tillamook Counties Seeking State Marine Board, ODFW Grants

River debris, wear-and-tear have taken it’s toll on the boat launch area at Wallace Marine Park in West Salem

The Willamette River in Salem, Oregon Photo By: Tim King

(SALEM) - The City of Salem is seeking a grant from the Oregon State Marine Board and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for improvements to the boat launch area at Wallace Marine Park.

The city wants to replace existing boarding floats at the Wallace Marine Park ramp on the Willamette River.

The floats are hit hard by floating debris during high water periods.

"The floats are approximately 10-years-old and sees a lot of wear and tear from boaters in the valley," said Wayne Shuyler, facilities manager for the marine board.

The city wants to use existing piling and replace the wood boarding floats with current designs.

The city is applying for a grant of $104,000.

Lincoln County is seeking a grant from the Oregon State Marine Board and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to acquire property on the Siletz River for a future new access site for anglers and boaters.

The county wants to acquire 18 acres of riverfront property near river mile seven.

The county plans to develop the site for day use with a public boat ramp, boarding floats, parking and vault-style toilet.

"A dirt ramp at the downstream end of the property is currently being used by many locals as a primitive launch site," said Shuyler.

The county is applying for a grant of $94,000.

Tillamook County is seeking grants from the Oregon State Marine Board and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to replace existing boarding floats at Nehalem Park and dredge around the ramp at Memaloose Park.

For the first project, the county wants to replace the existing boarding floats at Nehalem Park that are 20-years-old.

"The floats are splintering and cracking with age and exposure," said Shuyler

"The floats have lost their buoyancy and are a potential safety hazard to people." The county hopes to use existing piling and would the wood boarding floats with current designs.

The county also wants to dredge around the ramp at Memaloose Park. "There's less than six inches of water at half-tide," Shuyler said.

"This creates a safety and usability issue for boaters trying to use this popular fishing area."

The estimated cost of the dredging is $54,588.

Funds for the grants come from state boat title and registration fees and motorboat fuel tax revenues. ODFW grants are from the federal Sport Fish Restoration program for motorboat access, which comes from federal marine fuel taxes.

The board is scheduled to consider these and other boating facility grant requests on March 16th at the Columbia River Yacht Club in Portland.