CGWA Emergency Proposal/good neighbors

Cap · Since 12 Mar 2008 50 Posts Hood River

Thank you CGWA

In other news, as you may already know, we have an extreme high water condition on the Columbia, one that may persist for some time given the unusually high snowpack in all the watersheds of the Columbia. Though this condition impacts windsurfing to varying degrees, it has a profoundly negative impact on kiteboarding in the central Gorge by all but eliminating safe launch and landing zones.

The CGWA decided to take a proactive, good neighbor stance on this. We have submitted a recommendation to the Port to temporarily re-open a designated section of the Event Site to kite launch and landing effective immediately through Friday, June 10 with these stipulations: [Read More]

Hope to see you on the water soon!

-Katie

Katie Crafts
Executive Director

Bettyboarder · Fri May 20, 11 5:07 pm

Nice Katie thats awesome

cgw2 · Since 12 Oct 2006 18 Posts

Hi all-

Thanks, Cap, for getting the word out. Below is the press release in full, which shows our Board's intent and proposed stipulations. The Board spent a lot of time deliberating this topic, and we hope it's a step toward a more united wind sport community here in the Gorge. Sharing the wind stoke goes far, and in this time of high water levels the impact on the kiting community is unfortunate.

The Port will decide whether to accept this proposal at their Tuesday evening Commission meeting. Until then this is just that- a proposal.

In the meantime, hope to see you on the river this weekend! Or at the Pub tomorrow if it's not a zombie apocalypse Smile

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate use
Contact:
Katie Crafts, 541-386-9225
Michael McElwee, 541-386-1645

HOOD RIVER, Ore. (May 20, 2011) – At the request of the Columbia Gorge Windsurfing Association, the Port of Hood River Commission on Tuesday, May 24, will consider a temporary launching and landing zone for kiteboarding at the Port’s Event Site.

The CGWA proposal is designed to help the kiting community during a period of extremely high spring runoff. High water in the Columbia River has temporarily inundated the Hood River sandbar, the region’s most popular kite rigging and launching platform.

“Though this condition impacts windsurfing to varying degrees, it has a profoundly negative impact on kiteboarding in the central Gorge by all but eliminating safe launch and landing zones,” said Steve Gates, president of the CGWA.

“The CGWA discussed this situation in depth at its May 19 Board meeting, and decided to take a proactive, good neighbor stance on this and recommend to the Port to temporarily re-open the Event Site to kite launch and landing effective immediately through Friday, June 10,”
Michael McElwee, executive director of the Port, said it was “a much-appreciated step” on the part of the CGWA. He said he would present it to the Board of Commissioners at its 5 p.m. meeting Tuesday, May 24, at the Port Board room, 1000 E. Port Marina Drive, Hood River (the building at the north end of the parking lot just west of the Bridge Toll Plaza).

McElwee said he also would temporarily lift the ban on kiting at the Marina swim beach, until the Commission Tuesday can also consider possible easing of its policies for kiteboard use of that beach. The swim beach is situated between the mouth of the Hood River and the west jetty at the mouth of the Port’s boat marina.
Under the CGWA proposal, launching and landing of kites would be allowed at the Event Site from the irrigation control box east of the bathroom eastward to the existing pump/dry area.

“This should provide an adequate space for both kiteboarding and windsurfing for the next few weeks until the summer crowd arrives in force in mid-June,” Gates said.
The proposal stipulates that the current kite pump/dry area would stay in effect. Kites could not be stored in the launch/land area that would be created by the proposed adjustment.

During the interim period, windsurfers would store their boards and rigs to the west of the designated kite launch zone.

The CGWA encouraged the Port and kiting community to discourage use of the expanded launch area by beginning kiters.

“The Event Site is not an appropriate launch site for entry level kiters,” Gates noted.

Once water levels drop, kiteboarders would again be encouraged to use the sandbar for launching and landing.

The CGWA proposal noted the need for respect and cooperation among both windsports communities during the high-water period and shared use of a very constricted launch area.

Gates said the CGWA is committed to working closely with the Port and Columbia Gorge Kiteboard Association to inform members and other Event Site users of the temporary arrangement.

McElwee said that anyone wishing to comment on the proposal may direct thoughts to: porthr@gorge.net

All comments will be photocopied and included in information provided to the Port Commission prior to its discussion.

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1861 Posts XTreme Poster

Katie, this is just completely cool!

Many, many thanks.

Eric Cohn and his family of kiters and sailors

kenja · Since 19 Jun 2008 179 Posts Stoked

That's really awesome. Thanks!

undertow · Since 15 Feb 2008 371 Posts BeaversBurg Obsessed

Thank you!

hilton · Since 15 Aug 2008 801 Posts Opinionated

This is great news for so many reasons.

Even with the launching hassles, there have been many more kiters than windsurfers on the water around Hood River over the past few days.
It is clear that the high water is not going to keep the kiters off the water.
Allowing them (us) to launch from the grass at the Event Site and Marina is certainly a better (and safer) option than forcing people to launch from the parking lot at the spit. There is still plenty of room for windsurfing from the West half of the Event Site, and a great family beach at the new waterfront park.
It is good to know that the Port is open minded enough to recognize the demand and flexible enough to bend their rules and open up more launch space during the current high water conditions.

Many Thanks to the Port, CGWA, and CGKA!

cgw2 · Since 12 Oct 2006 18 Posts

Glad to see so much stoke here for this.

Just to be sure, at this point it's only a proposal; the Port will make a formal decision on Tuesday evening. Until then and through the weekend the current rules continue to apply (which include temporary launching at the Marina, kudos to the CGKA for making this happen).

Please feel free to share your stoke on this proposal with members of the Board if you know them. It was their decision to move forward with the proposal. I'm sure they'd appreciate hearing from you directly, and it would go far toward any potential future partnership opportunities between our communities.

Thanks!

-Katie

Pepi · Sat May 21, 11 4:08 pm

Original post deleted to help promote more positive discussion on this subject matter.

MarkWorth · Since 02 May 2011 149 Posts Hood River Stoked

Thanks Gorge Windsurfing Association.

A group of respectful kiteboards will help this proposal. The port rarely sees more than a few members of the public in a meeting. The Port of Hood River was created to develop the economy of Hood River County. If you mention a specific, concrete economic impact (not hypothetical or rumored) it will help.

Come show your support.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Thank you!

lloyd · Since 16 Aug 2007 108 Posts Hood River Stoked

Wow, thanks CGWA. Most of us windsurfed at one time and some of us still do. It's nice to see acknowledgement that we're all out there for the same reason. Much respect.....

Rico · Since 13 Mar 2005 1219 Posts Vancouver Photographer

This has to impact event site revenue as there would be users there if not for the high water and no kite launching. Great effort by CGWA. Thanks