Port 1 prepares for springers

The season won’t be set until the end of January, but people are already making reservations to stay at the Elochoman Marina during spring Chinook salmon season, Port Manager Jackie Lea told port commissioners at a December 13 meeting.

In preparation for the busy season, Assistant Port Manager Abe York and port employees are working to replace the grating covering D-Dock and its gangway. So far, they have completed work on the gangway and two sections of dock.

With leftover lumber, York plans to rebuild a fish cleaning station to supplement the one purchased for the marina earlier this year with county Marine Resource committee funds.

Fishery managers have predicted a return of 141,400 springers in 2013, Commissioner Brett Deaton reported.