The Columbia Press
January 28, 2022
County has new launch site, plans for more
Clatsop County’s newest re-
gional park officially opens
Feb. 1 with a ribbon-cutting
ceremony.
The 11 a.m. ceremony at the
Westport Boat Launch and
Dock is the culmination of a
years-long effort by Clatsop
County Parks, along with
state agencies, the former
landowner and private par-
ties.
The project replaces the
existing boat ramp and ag-
ing dock in the east-county
community with a new ramp
and adjacent boarding dock,
plus a separate dock for the
launching of nonmotorized
watercraft, plus short-term
tie-ups.
A paved parking lot with 46
vehicle-trailer spaces and 33
car spaces replaces the gravel
parking area. The new facili-
ty includes indoor restrooms
and space for a full-time on-
site host.
The Westport project first
was envisioned in 2004, when
the county and then-land-
owner, Georgia-Pacific Corp,
began discussions of a prop-
erty transfer. The presence of
contamination, mostly diesel
from long-ago mill activity,
brought things to a halt as the
property was enrolled in the
state’s environmental clean-
up program.
The transfer was completed
in 2014, following remedia-
tion, monitoring and a clean
bill of health from the Depart-
ment of Environmental Qual-
ity. That enabled the county
to apply for grants and begin
the permit-approval process.
A variety of grants have
made the project possible, in-
cluding $1.4 million from the
Oregon State Marine Board,
and $1 million from the Ore-
gon Department of Fish and
Wildlife.
The Marine Board dollars
come courtesy of the agen-
cy’s Boating Facility Grant
Program, which invests fees
and taxes from motorized
boaters, and the Waterway
5
Wrestlers get busy
Photos courtesy Clatsop County
Clatsop County Parks Director Steve Meshke relaxes at the
new boat launch dock in Westport. Below, employees take a
look at the new kayak boarding facility.
Access Grant Program, which
invests permit fees from
10-foot-and-longer unmotor-
ized vessels, in cooperation
with the Fish and Wildlife
Service’s Boating Infrastruc-
ture Grant Program.
The Columbia River Yacht
Club contributed $5,000 to
the project.
Two special features of
the project are a cradle-like
launch platform for kayakers,
and a handicapped-accessi-
ble transition fixture offering
easier access to watercraft for
disabled users.
The county plans to add
an adjoining picnic area and
playground later this year.
4-H holds community food drive
The 4-H Leadership Club
is sponsoring a community
food drive from 10 a.m. to 3
p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, at the
Astoria Safeway, 3250 Leif
Erickson Drive.
Items received will be giv-
en to the Clatsop Community
Action Food Bank and stay in
the community.
Most needed items are
soup, chili, macaroni and
cheese, cereal, peanut butter,
tuna, canned fruit, canned
vegetables, pasta, and pasta
sauce. No glass containers,
or perishable or homemade
items can be accepted.
Donations also will be ac-
cepted until Feb. 21 at OSU
Extension, 2001 Marine
Drive, Room 210, Astoria.
The referee prepares for a decision as Janessa Bork
defeats Clatskanie’s Natalie Baker in the meet at
Warrenton on Jan. 20. This week there is a junior high
tournament, then the boys team travels to Willamina for
a league competition and then on to the Monroe Invita-
tional and the girls’ Hood River Classic.