High river cuts into marina use, revenue

High water in the Columbia River kept the Columbia River Yacht Club home on Memorial Day, costing the Elochoman Slough Marina anticipated revenue, port manager Jackie Lea told Port District No. 1 commissioners at the regular meeting Thursday.

The river is at flood stage and full of debris. Yacht club members feared they’d be traveling with what they called “submarine-sized debris” and that it would take a long time to get home, Lea said.

While she said she’s always concerned that revenues are less than anticipated, the rest of the business is solid. Lea said, “We’re still putting money into our capital reserves, we’re still paying our bills. We have moorage and the storage units. If we have some good weather this year we’ll be fine.”

Commissioners Gary Quigley, Brett Deaton and Larry Bonds passed a resolution authorizing the replacement of Docks “E” & “F” so work could proceed.

The commissioners also learned that the street improvement project for Third Street, which will also relocate a pump out station had been delayed until 2012. The port is partnering with the Town of Cathlamet on the project.