Port of Alsea Will Rebuild Marina

Last May, voters in Lincoln County, Oregon, approved a $2.6 million bond measure that will fund major replacement and upgrade projects at the Port of Alsea in Waldport.

The existing facilities are more than 35 years old; some of the piling have large holes below the water line, making them impossible to repair because of restrictions on in-water work.

The project will include construction of an entirely new marina, starting with the replacement of the current 12-inch steel piling with 16- or 18-inch galvanized piles. The port will build a new boat launch to reduce congestion, add an ADA-accessible crabbing platform and construct a longer crabbing dock with its own gangway. There will also be upgrades to public bathrooms.

Since the current marina is full in September, when the recreational crabbing and salmon fishing seasons are underway, the new facility will have an additional 15 slips. “Right now, all we have are side ties, but we will be going to a combination of slips and side ties for the new marina,” said Roxie Cuellar, port manager.

Plans call for construction of concrete docks with a grated high-density polyurethane center. “The ODFW (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife) and the DSL (Department of State Lands) prefer that light be able to go through the polyurethane,” Cuellar said.

One thing the port won’t have to do is dredge the marina, since that work was done last year.

“Currently we are in the process of going out for bids and starting our permitting process,” Cuellar said. They hope to start work by November 1, 2019, so that all piles can be driven by the end of February 2020.

“We are hoping that the marina will be open and ready to go for the season starting in May 2020,” she said.