Port 1: Manager controls parking

The short spring salmon season on the lower Columbia River is gone, but issues still remain for Port District No. 1.

Fishery managers in Washington and Oregon reduced the season to less than two weeks as a means of sparing fish destined for the Willamette Basin, which has a forecast for very low returns of spring salmon.

The reduction has had a financial impact on the Elochoman Slough Marina, Manager Jackie Lea reported last Thursday when the Port 1 board of commissioners met.

"Our sales are down month to date about $10,000," she said.

During the season, the marina had rented every cabin, RV hookup spot, and every camping space.

Lea said some patrons complained that some campers left their rigs parked in the main parking area around the boat ramp and took advantage of a lack of parking rules. The campers asked that Lea take their recommendation for parking limits to the commisioners for action.

Commissioners LeRoy Burns and Larry Bonds--Commissioner Brett Deaton was working out of town and was absent--agreed a policy was needed, but not that which the boaters requested.

There's no place on the Columbia that reserves and charges for parking, Burns said.

"The Port of Camas and Washougal has a lot more room, and their policy is first come, first served," he said.

"This is not that big of an issue," Bonds said. "The spring salmon season is a short season, and it's not a problem at other times."

Burns suggested that the port establish a policy stating the authority of port management staff to direct parking as they see fit.

Port Attorney Tim Hanigan said he would write a draft policy to be presented at the commission's May 8 meeting.

In other business, the commissioners also authorized the manager to negotiate changes in the contract for the marina's fuel supply.

The marina's current supply comes from Chevron, Lea said, but Chevron is starting to mix ethyl alcohol into its gasoline to create ethanol, which, many boaters feel, can deteriorate plastic and glass fiber tanks and lines.

The supplier has recommended changing the contract to allow purchase of straight gas from other suppliers.