Port 1 saw big tourism boost from RVs

Wahkiakum County Port 1 held a brief meeting last week.

In ten minutes time they agreed to move their February meeting, which usually occurs on the second Thursday of the month to Feb. 13, signed waivers of compensation for any potential special meetings in the coming year, and listened to the manager’s report.

Port Manager Todd Souvenir said the port completed a lot of projects in 2023, and thanked his staff, remarking that it had been a good and fun year.

He said cabins, moorage, and RV usage was up 18-20 percent from the previous year.

“Overall, it was a very good year from that standpoint, along with completing a lot of very big projects that were time consuming, a lot of which was done by port staff,” Souvenir said.

He said they were now starting to replace fascia boards on some of docks and preparing for the spring fishing season.

“We are for the most part booked from March 20 to April 10. People are worrying about not being able to fish into April,” he said. “Fingers crossed we will get a full season.”

Administrative Assistant Mackenzie Jones talked about the coming Elochoman Slough Marina Street Market, which will open at the end of May, every Friday through the summer from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. She’s reached out to vendors that sell at markets farther afield, in hopes of growing the local market, and is working on new banners and flyers.

Commissioner Scott Anderson congratulated the entire staff for a great year.