A7
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018
Trail: State expects improvements to take several years
Continued from Page A1
Coast Trail winds through
Fort Stevens, Ecola and
Oswald West state parks.
The state has identifi ed
fi ve trail gaps in Clatsop
County — two in 2011 and
three more recently. They
include Hug Point, where a
rocky outcropping is impass-
able at high tide; Camp Rilea,
where the trail, which runs
along the beach, is closed
periodically due to artillery
training; and areas where the
trail turns onto local roads
and U.S. Highway 101.
One of the newer gaps
emerged in 2016 after a land-
slide snipped a portion of the
trail that runs between Indian
Beach and Ecola P oint in
half.
Park staff had allowed
hikers to walk the trail up to
the landslide, but the entire
section is now closed at the
trailheads.
Katie Frankowicz/The Daily Astorian
Signs at Ecola State Park warn
visitors of hazards on the trail.
People were not honoring
the closure at the landslide,
said Ben Cox, park manager
for the Nehalem Bay Man-
agement Unit. One person
even tied a rope to a tree to
help people navigate around
the slide.
“It was to the point where
people were going out and
beyond the area closed and
then we were getting com-
plaints about the poor shape
of the trail,” Cox said.
The state’s plans to
address gaps in the Ore-
gon Coast Trail will dovetail
with work to reroute this sec-
tion in Ecola State Park out-
side of the slide zone. Cox
and his rangers examined
a possible reroute in 2017.
They had hoped to have a
new trail available soon, but
staff changes and other work
delayed the project.
Since 2017, he and park
staff have fi elded questions
from people looking to hike
the entire Oregon Coast Trail.
They encounter people who
are using old information or
tips gained from other hikers
about where to camp — often
in places where camping is
not allowed.
But there are few options
for hikers, Cox said. There
are stretches between camp-
ing and lodging options that
hikers just can’t make in a
one-day trek.
As Wilcox and her team
continue to look at how to
improve the trail system,
Cox anticipates conversa-
tions about where camping
could be allowed might come
up. For the section of the trail
he oversees, he believes there
could be an opportunity to
work with cities and counties.
trail connecting nearby Neah-
kahnie Mountain with the
city, closing a gap identifi ed
in the 2011 plan. No access
exists and hikers are forced
to walk along the shoulder of
Highway 101 to stay on the
route.
In September, city leaders
requested an extension of the
state grant funding the work
after unexpected changes —
including a land transfer —
delayed construction of the
trail.
Yearslong work
The state expects the work
of identifying gaps along the
Oregon Coast Trail, improv-
ing safety and connectivity,
adding signs and looking at
the trail as a whole will take
several years.
Elsewhere, some cit-
ies are already in the mid-
dle of addressing some of the
problems.
Manzanita landed a grant
several years ago to build a
Consult a
PROFESSIONAL
Q: Are chiropractors
real doctors?
like all other doctors,
A: Yes,
we undergo four years of
Deal: ‘We’re going to try to do it all’
Continued from Page A1
Spilling water has been
ordered by the courts in
the past, as recently as last
spring.
But those orders have
created friction between
salmon recovery advocates
and groups that say curbing
the fl ow of water means less
electricity — and that means
higher rates for customers.
‘Flexible spill’
This latest approach calls
for “fl exible spill,” accord-
ing to a joint statement
released by the agreement’s
parties. In other words, dam
operators would control the
volume of water that gets
released to help move fi sh
downriver; more water when
electricity demand is lower,
less water when there’s
high demand for electricity.
During those high-demand
periods, more water would
be sent through power-gen-
erating turbines.
These new strategies
for spilling water past the
dams would be in place for
three years on eight dams
on the lower Columbia and
Snake rivers. The agreement
“avoids litigation” during
that three-year period.
“I don’t think this piece
would be the solution, but it
might be the start of a move
toward a solution, and that’s
what I think we’re all hope-
ful for,” said Jim Litchfi eld,
executive director of North-
west RiverPartners, a group
that has opposed increased
spill in the past.
“At the same time, we are
concerned about the unprec-
edented and scientifi cally
unproven levels of new spill
being contemplated by the
agreement,” said Litchfi eld,
whose group represents util-
ities, ports, farms and other
operations that support
dams.
Fishing and environmen-
tal advocacy groups char-
acterized the agreement an
important incremental step
in the right direction.
“The urgency for strong
action
remains,
while
Columbia Basin salmon
remain on life support,”
said Glen Spain, North-
west regional director of the
Pacifi c Coast Federation of
Fishermen’s Associations.
Tom France, regional
executive director of the
National Wildlife Federa-
tion, called the plan a step
to help both salmon and the
endangered resident orcas
of south Puget Sound. Their
waning chance of survival
has been directly linked
to the historically declin-
ing population of Colum-
bia and Snake river Chinook
salmon.
“Much more will be
needed, however, to protect
endangered salmon — and
orca — from extinction,” he
said in a statement.
The parties that agreed
to the new spill strategy
include the Washington,
Oregon and the Nez Perce
Tribe in Idaho. Other parties
include the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers and the Bureau
of Reclamation, which oper-
ate the dams, and the Bonne-
ville Power Administration,
which
markets
hydro-
power to utilities and other
customers.
Bonneville
Power
Administration spokesman
Dave Wilson said the plan
could keep everyone out of
court for the next three years.
“The new approach is
collaboration rather than liti-
gation, working together the
states, tribes, federal agen-
cies,” he said. “We’re going
to try to do it all.”
Neahkahnie is an import-
ant focal point for the com-
munity , Manzanita City Man-
ager Cynthia Alamillo said.
So besides improving the
overall t rail experience, she
believes the connecting trail
to Manzanita “will be a great
amenity to our community.”
A new website — ore-
goncoasttrailplanning.com
— provides regular updates
and also gives people several
ways to submit feedback or
information.
Dam removal
Some, including the fed-
eral judge who previously
presided over the case, and
more recently, Washing-
ton Gov. Jay Inslee, have
called for research or con-
sideration for the removal
of dams on the lower Snake
River. It’s an idea that’s
been discussed as way to
save salmon and ensure
they are plentiful enough
for orca survival in the
Northwest — especially
if more incremental steps
don’t work.
Todd True is an Earth-
Justice lawyer who has
represented environmen-
tal groups in legal action
over the dams and salmon.
He said it would be great if,
after the new agreement’s
three-year period, the gov-
ernment can come up with
a long-term solution to pro-
tect salmon and orcas.
“Scientists have been
saying for decades that’s the
single biggest step we can
take to put salmon on the
path to sustainable popula-
tions,” True said. “So that
is front and center and it’s
an issue we think we need
to come to grips with and
address.”
ASTORIA
CHIROPRACTIC
Barry Sears, D.C.
503-325-3311
2935 Marine Drive
Astoria, Oregon
graduate school including two
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fewest tests. We are happy to
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A: Yes, yes and yes.
Just
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or Medicare Number.
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Q: Can you help
set up my new
printer?
LEO FINZI
Port: ‘It should be for the greatest good’
Continued from Page A1
Gary Kobes, who manages
the a irport. T he c ommission
approved funding the design
and bidding portions of two
new airport improvement
projects that will be largely
paid for by Federal Avia-
tion Administration grants.
The c ommission recently
approved spending up to
$230,000 on a local match
to avoid losing several mil-
lion dollars worth of federal
grants.
10TH STREET
for the sake of maintaining an
institution. It should be for the
greatest good.”
Commissioner Robert Ste-
vens said he would be more
open to selling buildings but
holding onto land. Commis-
sioner James Campbell said
there are some buildings he
would like to see in private
hands to avoid maintenance
costs.
The Port Commission
also renewed a contract for
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ASTORIA
TRANSIT CENTER
who likened the possibility
to giving the agency’s future
away. “I’m going to be totally
against giving away or selling
any property,” he said.
Rohne broached the
idea of having tenants like
Englund Marine & Indus-
trial Supply or Bornstein Sea-
foods buy the land under their
buildings, or of selling tenants
at the Astoria Regional Air-
port the buildings they lease.
He pointed to the develop-
ment at North Tongue Point,
where the Port Commission
ended an unprofi table lease
early so boatbuilder Hyak
Maritime could begin devel-
oping a shipwright cluster.
“Tongue Point is being
used productively, and I think
that’s a greater win for our
community,” Rohne said. “It
doesn’t need to have our stamp
on it, to maintain an institution
Astoria’s Best.com
After the state’s recom-
mendation, Jim Knight,
the Port’s executive direc-
tor, ordered the causeway
closed just before Thanks-
giving, keeping utilities on
and allowing tenants to use
skiffs to reach their boats .
The abrupt closure has left
boat owners upset with the
Port over the handling of
the marina and a lack of
maintenance.
The state recommended a
similar closure in 2010 over
the same concerns. The Port
hired Bergerson for tempo-
rary fi xes to keep the cause-
way open, but did not have
the permits to use treated
timber.
Bergerson’s repairs at the
time were meant as a fi ve-
year Band-Aid, but are now
nine years in and badly rot-
ting, said the company’s
co-owner, Greg Morrill. He
agreed with the state’s con-
cern about portions of the
causeway holding up, much
less supporting vehicles or
pedestrians.
“I’m not saying that’s the
end of the structure, but in
its current state, that’s why it
has to be shut down,” Mor-
rill said.
Cost to repair
Morrill estimated between
$200,000 and $250,000 for
immediate repairs, along
with between $250,000 to
$375,000 over the next fi ve
years to maintain the repairs
and pedestrian access.
The Port has been con-
templating whether to con-
tinue repairing the failing
causeway, which staff has
estimated would require $4
million to replace. Morrill
estimated between $6 mil-
lion and $8 million.
Port commissioners sug-
gested temporary fi xes to
the causeway, from fl oating
pontoons to a lighter alumi-
num deck with a lesser need
for support. Commissioner
Dirk Rohne asked Mor-
rill for his recommendation.
Morrill asked the Port what
it s long-term goals are for
the marina .
“There are Band-Aids
that will work to keep it
open, extend the life a lit-
tle bit longer,” Morrill said.
“But it’s still just a Band-
Aid. As happy as I would
be to take the Port’s money
to put Band-Aids on indef-
initely, you need to look
at a solution beyond a
Band-Aid.”
The East Mooring B asin
has attracted interest from a
development group led by
Floyd Holcom, owner of the
adjacent Pier 39 waterfront
complex. The group hopes to
put the marina under private
management and develop
more slips, fl oating homes,
retail and a potential cruise
ship dock .
The Port has looked at
the partnership as a way to
inject private capital into fi x-
ing the marina. The area has
been added to state enter-
prise and federal opportu-
nity zones offering property
tax incentives and an ability
for investors to avoid capital
gains taxes.
Shuttle service
Even a temporary repair
to the causeway could take a
long time. Work on the pil-
ings would have to be during
an in-water work period that
lasts from November to Feb-
ruary. It would take six to
eight weeks to get a permit
for such work, Morrill said,
and much longer for per-
mits to replace the entire
structure.
“As long as the fi sher-
men and customers are there
and they still want to get out
to their boats, I think we’re
obligated to provide a shut-
tle service,” said Commis-
sioner Robert Stevens, call-
ing on Port staff to price the
service out.
Other Port commission-
ers agreed to have staff look
at how to set the service up.
Knight raised the possibil-
ity of using Kiwi’s Water
Taxi, a Columbia River shut-
tle service whose owner,
Alan Brann, is one of the
aggrieved tenants who left
the East Mooring Basin after
the closure. Sitting in the
audience Tuesday, Brann
signaled his disinterest in
helping the Port.
business. We can come to your
location to set it up. We also offer
remote assistance from our office.
If you purchase your printer from
us, we install ink or toner, align
print heads, etc. at no charge
(compare to $29.99 charge from
local Big Box store.) We offer color
printers from $49.99. See a printer
you like online? We will match their
price. Wishing you all the best.
Q: What should I
use to clean my
baby’s teeth?
Marina: Repair to causeway could take a long time
Continued from Page A1
can help set up your
A: We
new printer at your home or
baby’s teeth are
A: Remember
not only important but part
JEFFREY M. LEINASSAR
DMD, FAGD
503/325-0310
1414 MARINE DRIVE,
ASTORIA
www.smileastoria.com
of their health and development.
Cleaning baby’s teeth can be done
by gauze, a finger swipe, or a small
brush. Make it quick and fun!!
Remember that a night-time bottle
with milk has lactose ( milk sugar)
and juice has fructose or sucrose
(sugar) and if it sits on teeth day after
day problems are going to develop.
Baby teeth are small with thin enamel
so they are important to keep clean.
the year draws to
Q: As
a close, can we expect
anything new from
Hughes-Ransom?
A:
John R. Alcantara - Funeral Director
Hughes-
Ransom
Mortuary
Astoria: 576 12th St.
503.325.2535
Seaside: 220 N. Holladay
503.738.6622
www.hughes-ransom.com
After the number of unsolicited negative
experiences we have heard over the years
from families who had negative experiences as a
result of choosing a mortuary for immediate need
we want to offer an alternative. Consequently,
Hughes-Ransom Mortuaries will match the
pricing of both our competitors services so that
families won’t have to put up with mediocre
service or disappointment to remorse when their
needs aren’t; met. You and your family deserve
the best quality service whether your needs are
for immediate disposition or more traditional
services. Our decision benefits you and is not for
a limited time. Why put yourself in the hands of
someone who doesn’t have your best interests
at heart. Come to Hughes-Ransom, where your
traditions are our traditions. Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year.