kiteboarders want a lower sandbar??

jonah · Since 20 Jul 2006 169 Posts Hood River Stoked

This article in The Oregonian http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/119406574131340.xml&coll=7
claims that kiteboarders are in favor of port lowering the sandbar and dumping the sand out into the river.

"both groups [windsurfers and kiteboarders] are pleased with the port's plan to shave about 9,900 cubic yards off the top of the sandbar and push it to deeper water in order to drop the top of the sand below the ordinary high water mark."

I don't know if this would be good or bad. When the water is high, there isn't exactly a ton of rigging room near the Event Site. So this seems like it would eliminate that room altogether (or send us back to the Spit). But then again, when the water is low there is so much rigging room that some more shallow areas for teaching/beginners (Northwest corner?) might be good too.

I'm just surprised to hear that the Port claims there is consensus on the issue. Does anyone know more about this? CGKA?

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

The Article claims that the Army Corps of Engineers are accepting comments on the proposal, but I can't find exact details of what the sculpting would do (a map specifically.)

This old proposal from May was the closest I could find, it spells out a few possible scenarios:

http://www.portofhoodriver.com/PortHoodRiverDeltaSummary.pdf

It definitely sounds like no matter what we would be back to the old situation of a lot of water in-between the spit and the event site, so no walking over. I guess I'd be okay with that if we get something in return, like making a nice big kiddie pool or speed strip. But I don't see that being mentioned anywhere.

Pepi · Sun Nov 04, 07 7:55 pm

As usual, the news media is a bit off and has spun the information in an odd way.
The last discussions between the Port and the windsurf/kite community was regarding reshaping the western edge of the sandbar to trim it back a bit and even it out (this would help prevent the windsurf pilgrimage over onto the sandbar and allow for easier launching for kiters).
There had also been some discussion about deepening the channel between the sandbar and the Event Site to allow better watercraft access for the kite schools.

Mostly all of this is speculative discussion between the Port and the windsurf/kite community. Right now the main intent is to gain the support of the Corp of Engineers to agree to help out with any positive changes that can hopefully be agreed upon by everyone involved.

Pepi

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1872 Posts XTreme Poster

I think kiters have outgrown the available parking at the kite-spit in the summer months. Regardless of where the sand is, I think creating a situation where kiters cannot wade to launch from the Event Site is not good.

Eric

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Nov 05, 07 1:08 am

If you want to know what they are proposing to do, look at their permit application to the Corps.

here it is..

https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/g/docs/notices/NWP-2007-950.pdf

based on the drawings, it seems like you still might be able to walk from the event to the sand bar..although not entirely in the same place. i don't know though, it is late, my eyes are fuzzy adn the cross section is at a weird angle... take a look yourself.

shredjim · Since 07 Jun 2006 188 Posts Stoked

I'm in S Padre right now without much wind and/or internet access. That guy Matt from the Oregonian left out most of my quote. What I really said was "The sandbar is huge and will continue to grow. Both kiteboarders and windsurfers will benefit from shaping the sandbar via scraping the northwestern tip on a yearly basis and moving that material to the western side of the Eventsite thereby growing the Eventsite to the west, providing more and improved river access." As far as I have heard, the Port does not plan to deepen the channel to the boat basin so it can't be crossed via walking from the Eventsite to the sandbar, just make it deep enough for schools to get jetskis in and out. The bottom line is there won't be much budget for this project, so I don't think we should expect a huge amount of change.

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

best thing would be to pile the sand in front of the
event site and all the way down past Luhr Jensen. Pump
the sand from a channel straight out from the boat basin
leaving the present spit that arcs out from the eastern
event site "jetty." It would provide a nice chop barrier
for the new slick and a nice safe wash ashore area for
beginners and schools upwind along the new beach.

grass lawn

sand beach for all

damn that would be sweet

The key to mixed wind sports water access
is a long stretch of beach PERPENDICULAR
to the prevailing wind. And a safe bozo beach
area down wind.

Call me a dreamer

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

hmm, so, this is interesting. first off, i'd like to say that as far as i know, this permit is supposed to be a "placeholder" so that the whole thing can get approved and the work can get done before next season. We are supposed to be able to make changes to it.

Secondly, what Jim and I discussed and agreed to at the delta planning meeting was this http://209.216.161.224/kiteboard/pdf/EventSiteSandGrading-RD8-8-07.pdf

The impression given to us at that meeting was that the sand labeled "excavation area" on the pdf i've linked to above, roughly the same sand designated for the windsurfing rigging and launching area on the sandbar, was to be used to fill in the area in front of the event site in between the 2 jettys and also to fill in on the western end of the west jetty; creating more waterfront realestate. The last CGKA meeting held down at hte sandbar, i remember discussing using the sandbar to create more waterfront access and that seemed to be the general consensus. We can't make more waterfront access in front of the sandbar without having to walk 200 yards to get it it, so the next logical place to make more waterfront access is to the west of the sandbar. Which is the natural flow of things for the delta anyway. OK, now...

Looking at the US ACE permit notice, it looks like the consultant from flowing solutions has changed the original idea around. Specifically page 6, the fill area no longer connects the west and eastern jetty in front of the event site. The impression I was given at the delta planning meeting was that this area would be filled in shortening our walk through the water to the sandbar, because sand would be filled out to the end of the east jetty at the event site. What I thought i was agreeing to, was a small channel coming out of the nichols boat basin, a little deeper possible, but not wider than what is necessary to get a PWC in/out of there. What i had envisioned would be a shorter walk through the water from the eventsite by walking out along the eastern jetty, then only having to wade thru the PWC channel.

thanks PDXMB for linking to that US ACE notice. It is just a placeholder application; we have time to get changes made.

Lastly, I am not in favor of losing access to the sandbar from the eventsite; i agree completely that we need that for busy days during hte summer because the spit parking is totally inadequate.

Mark · Mon Nov 05, 07 11:07 am

Keep on it guys! I think these things have a way of going in the best interest of the windsurfers and kiters be damned.

I know it teadius (sp) but let us know what we can do to help before its too late.

thanks again
Mark
ps. I want access from the event site. Any digging out or messing with that sand I am against. ( my toes need grass)

PPs. If we ( the kiters ) dont get what we want.... then they can clean the sandbar by themselves. Remember we raised alot of money for cancer, did at least three events of good faith by cleaning the sandbar.
Pretty sure its more than the windsurfers did......

Mark · Mon Nov 05, 07 11:10 am

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Nov 05, 07 6:34 pm

I wouldn't daydream too much about this configuration and that configuration. The river will move that sand when and where it wants to.

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

If the water channel into the Nichols Boat Basin is closed off too much, won't the pond become stagnant, full of Duck Weed, Purple Loose Strife, and a breeding area for mosquitoes?

There may be health hazard considerations in the sculpting of the "delta".