Hood River Port closes safe access to Kiters this weekend!!!

sherrybohn · Since 16 Jun 2006 71 Posts

Thanks for the positive suggestions. Now is the time to begin work for next year. Over time as the CGKA board works with the port and its staff perhaps changes can be made but....it takes time, communication and working together.

With regards to Wakeup's comments.....
"fact is the port could care less about kiteboarding. you are a windsurfer. the rest of the port comissioners are orchardist/businessmen.
why would any of you care about the kiters? there is no interest there
there are several folks at the sand bar who have been around here living, working, playing just as long (if not longer) than your 17 years. scared of a little change. that is so like people from your age group."

Windsurfer?? Is that something I should be ashamed of? If I'm to be "branded" I consider myself a recreationist - Windsurfing, kiting, biking, hiking, surfing, a little golf. What IS my age group? You're only as old as you act and your body tells you. Afraid of CHANGE??? I've been actively trying to help make change happen for quite some time within this whole community.

I see the number of kites and cars on a daily basis. I fully understand that this issue will not go away but..... it takes those 3 things I mentioned above - time, communication & working together to make CHANGE!

Happy 4th of July. Take a few moments to remember what the 4th is really all about....then enjoy this wonderful area and beautiful community that we all share.

Bettyboarder · Fri Jul 04, 08 9:02 am

Thanks Sherry for the response. The fireworks have been going on for a long time and we can work to change the location it will just take time. People with concerns should come to the next CGKA meeting were we can make a plan and try to change it for next year.

We really need to get a kiter on the Waterfront Rec Com. Sherry can you help us make this happen? What are the steps we (CGKA) need to take to get a kiter on the WRC? I think it's very important that all Waterfront users be represented on the WRC.

forrest · Fri Jul 04, 08 9:54 am

ed · Since 04 Jun 2008 40 Posts

It seems the best solution is to lower the river next year and kiters can access the spit via the event site. According the the Port the river level is being kept high at the request of the Lyons club for the fireworks. The spit is clean thanks to the CGKA work parties and represents little fire danger. The only other benefit to the high water that I can see is the ease of clean up. As it is the fireworks debris will be swept down the river.

My version of a happy 4th does not include watching people getting drug into the bushes on the wrong side of the spit.

sherrybohn · Since 16 Jun 2006 71 Posts

Waterfront Rec committee members terms expire June 09.
Forrest I told you I was talking with staff with regards to getting representation on this committee before that.... it will happen. Schools are represented by Steve Gates Of Big Winds. As well as staff speaks with each of them on a regular basis.

Sorry.... I wasn't aware that the Lions had/could requested any water level adjustments. I'll follow up with that on Monday.

Sounds like we need a meeting of the Lions, CGKA, CGWA and port inorder to make this works for everyone.

Just so everyone knows...WFRC only meets a couple times a year. Beginning of the season, sometimes in the middle if there are "issues" and the end for a "wrap -up" discussion.

Right or wrong - Fireworks and spit access was never discussed. Sorry!
Letting Status quo happen can bite sometimes.

Let me assure you - It will be discussed now for next year.

vangondc · Fri Jul 04, 08 11:12 am **Thanks for your comments Sherry!**

I'm glad that this issue has been noticed. I would, also, say that this is not just a local issue. One of the things I love about living and kite boarding here is the fact that this is both a national and international destination. It's great listening to all the accents down there and swapping stories with people from France, Germany, Caribbean, Canada and many other places from both the US and abroad. They are people have come from very far away to spend there very limited and valuable vacation time with us and to pull the rug out from under them, on a holiday week, makes a bad statement as to how we feel about them in our town as tourist. Just some more food for thought. Thanks again for taking notice and hopefully next year will be full of happiness for all.

Happy 4th.

shastadogs2 · Since 28 Mar 2005 336 Posts Obsessed

excuse me for my constant perspective, but i gotta say what i gotta say:

shooting fireworks into the air creates a cloud of smoke and cordite that is immense and toxic and ends up in the river and atmosphere. all that crap goes downwind and downriver and ends up in your (and mine) lungs and stomach and it sucks.

venues like hood river and others may one day face tort for the effects of such displays; it is my studied opinion that communities that offer such events are environmentally irresponsible and litigationally vulnerable.

are you listening commish?

i cannot believe in this day and age and in this neck of the woods that fireworks displays have survived-they are from another era when we had not one idea that what we dropped from the trees landed on the heads of those below us.

LP · Since 05 Apr 2007 115 Posts HR Stoked

Thanks for your measured, non-confrontational and helpful answers on complicated questions sherry. I personally appreciate your tone.

I concur that we need kiter representation on the Waterfront Recreation Committee. This is crucial and it sounds like it might be in the works. Ideally this representative would be a consensus builder with excellent communication/education skills, with the schedule and motivation to allow him or her to make the meetings and do the job --consistent representation is crucial to government entities and decision-makers. There are plenty of people with these attributes on the CGKA board--well maybe not that many with sufficient time in their schedules. Wink

Change takes time but it doesn't have to take forever.
But you can't complain unless you make constructive suggestions to the right people, like some people did in this thread.
Threats NEVER work and are always counterproductive. Trust me on that.

That said I agree with shastadogs--fireworks, though cool to look at--are an outmoded, polluting form of entertainment. Seems a little absurd to let all that crap go into the river.
Happy 4th.

From Wiki:

Pollution
Fireworks produce smoke and dust that may contain residues of heavy metals, sulfur-coal compounds and some low concentration toxic chemicals. These by-products of fireworks combustion will vary depending on the mix of ingredients of a particular firework. (The color green, for instance, may be produced by adding the various compounds and salts of Barium, some of which are toxic, and some of which are not.) Some fisherman have noticed and reported to environmental authorities that firework residues can hurt fish and other waterlife because some may contain toxic compounds such as antimony sulfide. This is a subject of much debate due to the fact that large-scale pollution from other sources makes it difficult to measure the amount of pollution that comes specifically from fireworks. The possible toxicity of any fallout may also be affected by the amount of gunpowder used, type of oxidizer, colors produced and launch method.
Pollutants from fireworks raise concerns because of potential health risks associated with hazardous by-products. For most people the effects of exposure to low levels of toxins from many sources over long periods are unknown. For persons with asthma or multiple chemical sensitivity the smoke from fireworks may aggravate existing health problems. Environmental pollution is also a concern because heavy metals and other chemicals from fireworks may contaminate water supplies and because fireworks combustion gases might contribute to such things as acid rain which can cause vegetation and even property damage. However, gunpowder smoke and the solid residues are basic, and as such the net effect of fireworks on acid rain is debatable. The carbon used in fireworks is produced from wood and does not lead to more carbon dioxide in the air. What is not disputed is that most consumer fireworks leave behind a considerable amount of solid debris, including both readily biodegradable components as well as nondegradable plastic items. Concerns over pollution, consumer safety, and debris have restricted the sale and use of consumer fireworks in many countries. Professional displays, on the other hand, remain popular around the world.

sherrybohn · Since 16 Jun 2006 71 Posts

Shastadog2 and LP I hear you.

Never thought about it in those terms and doubt many in Hood River have. Interesting.....

Let's work together now so that we don't spend a good portion of next 4th of July discussing this situation.

Enjoy

bfar · Since 03 Oct 2006 25 Posts HR

Come on, really, some of you nuts are so full of yourselves.........check out who comes to see the fireworks; families from up and down the valley, the ones that make up the true fabric of this community. Not transient wind heads or elitist vacation home owners, or transplants who moved here to make a living off the wind. So calm down and shut up, we'll get our precious launch back in a day.
Oh yea sorry but as far as those tourists who come here to kite guess what; thomas the train brings in more $$$ to town than the kiter population. see ya on the water next week.

BigR · Since 05 Jul 2005 372 Posts White Salmon Obsessed

Well it looks like those fireworks may have had at least a small impact on kiters....

By setting on fire a few of the lesson trailers that were out at the spit.........

less learners.... or at least they'll have little burnt holes in their kites now

HAPPY 4th of JULY EVERYONE!

forrest · Sat Jul 05, 08 8:35 am

FlyDunes · Since 09 Oct 2007 1034 Posts Aloha XTreme Poster

mmac · Since 15 May 2005 93 Posts SC

It looked lonely on the river yesterday without all the kites. Definately, a bad statement for all the tourists that have travelled a long way to visit for the weekend. Another year, can't believe the Port closes off our only access and doesn't arrange for other alternatives. Crying or Very sad

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Its funny how you guys thank Sheri for coming on here when all she does is come on here when we are complaining about the port and then give us some BS statement like we are working very hard and open to suggestions on how to make this better next year. Next year we are gonna be having this same post and she is gonna come on here again and say some BS to shut everyone up and make everyone happy.

KidCorporate · Since 10 Jul 2007 563 Posts Addicted

My 2 cents:

My father and the rest of my family traveled over 1200 miles round trip this week in order to kite. Judging by the number of out of state plates I see down by the river I imagine he's not the only one. These people are not locals, these people are probably not expert kiters either. To close the only safe legal access during peak tourism days is both shortsighted and dangerous, not to mention the obvious danger from having fireworks out there as we all saw last night. Add to this the horrible attitudes displayed by Dan the event site caretaker and the ignorance displayed by other Port personnel, I know for a fact my Dad and his money will not be back around the 4th next year.

pdxmonkeyboy · Sat Jul 05, 08 12:39 pm

Last time I checked, the Port owns the spit and they can do whatever the fuck they want with it. Yeah, the port has an interest in the well being of the city and enjoyment of the public resource that their properties afront. On the other hand, Ports are not recreational entities, they are businesses. And I can assure you that the money brought in from the little ticket both is not even a drop in the bucket compared to their commercial and light industrial leases.

So I think the message is (in my non-pc monkeyboy kind of way) using the spit is a privilege, not some kind of right so quite your fucking bitching. I can just see the port now "ooohhh, the kite boarders are upset about not having access for one day of the year, lets cancel the fireworks show that the whole city enjoys" No wait, lets spend thousands of dollars on a barge and the necessary permits so as the all important kite boarders won't have to go kite somewhere else for one day.

Come on people, quit your bellyaching and start acting like adults. The sooner you realize the world doesn't revolve around the desires of kiteboarders, the sooner you will be able to more effectively work on access issues.