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Horrible News for Fern Ridge, Oregon Sailors

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Bruce Ebling
Navigator

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USA
155 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/19/2004 : 08:56:44

I just read on the Corps of Engineers news flash that Fern Ridge Resevoir could be restricted to 13.5 ft. below full pool for up to 7 years! That will eliminate any sailing there untill as late as year 2112. I still have not seen an in depth article in our local paper. At this point I don't know what to do, I sure don't want my "Selah" to sit under the carport for that long. Here is a link to the Corp of Engineers site: https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/pa/news/shownews.asp?rn=04-227

I did read there will be some public meetings in January. This is awful news for the sailors in this area.
Bruce Ebling
1989 WK "Selah"

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 12/19/2004 : 10:59:59

Bummer... I drove around Fern Ridge last summer... a very pretty spot. I'd pondered trailering WOTAM up there for a week of warm-water sailing as my sister lives in nearby Springfield.

Since the dam is leaking, it sounds like there's really not much they can do but lower the water to a safe level. What's your next closest venue of any size... I reckon the Columbia river in Portland, or Coos Bay on the coast. I suppose Shasta is in striking distance, 3-1/2 hours south. Unless they start getting some snowpack, there may not be much water there either.

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 12/19/2004 : 11:00:46

Wow, bummer! How big will that deck get if you don't have Selah in the water? It doesn't sound like they are just messing with you.

"I know many people depend on the lake and this will have serious impact on them but we now have concrete evidence and expert analysis that the dam is accelerating toward failure," Dasso said. "We ask for everyone's patience as we work through these difficult times."

Could you still use a deck boat or pontoon boat on the res. and keep Selah in a yard for drysailing at a more distant venue?

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 12/19/2004 : 11:45:46

If they reduce the pool elevation 13.5 feet, does that mean that the lake becomes too small in area for you to sail on it?, or does it just mean that the launch ramps and Marina will close? I would assume that the launch ramp(s) could be extended without too much difficulty. Folsom Lake's pond elevation fluctuates almost 100 feet or more in "bad" years, so several years ago, the State Parks department extended the launch ramps another 50 feet, so now the lake is still accessible to boaters anywhere from 466' (full pond) to 375' (30% of capacity). Of course at 375', the surface area of the lake is a lot less than at full pond, and it gets rather dicey to navigate around all the exposed islands and shoals, but there is still a clear area of perhaps 1/2 mile x 1 mile available out in the deepest part. Unfortunately, extending the ramps didn't help the Marina concessionaire - he still has to close the marina when the lake drops to 415', as it did July 10th this year, in the middle of summer, only 12 weeks after it opened

.
If you do end up having to move "Selah" to the Columbia River, how far would you then have to drive, round trip, to go out on the boat for a day?

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Bruce Ebling
Navigator

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USA
155 Posts

Response Posted - 12/19/2004 : 15:20:36

Larry:Fern Ridge Resevoir (to the best of my knowledge) is less than 30' deep. Reducing the depth by 13.5' would make the water unreachable and what water was left would be too shallow to sail in. Moving the boat to Portland means a round trip of 200 miles. The beauty of Fern Ridge is that I am off work at 3:00pm and can get out to the lake for an evening sail. We do this about 3 times per week. We can camp out overnight and be home to do house maintenance in a very short time. I don't want to sound spoiled, but the convenience of having the boat close is a big draw. I guess at this point I will just have to wait and see what the construction schedule will be. I would rather sell "Selah" than have her sit in my carport for 4 to 8 years :-(
Bruce Ebling
1989 WK "Selah"

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triley
Captain

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USA
251 Posts

Response Posted - 12/21/2004 : 17:01:53

Lakes are suffering right now. Sakakewea in ND is very low and all but one marina are just out of business. Interesting groundings that weren't there years ago. The lake I used to sail in Illinois was closed by Homeland Security concerns for a year after 9/11 and still has some restricted access, though not in the sailing basins. If the terror level goes up, it may be off limits once again.

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Gary B.
Admiral

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USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 12/27/2004 : 15:29:32

Bruce, I feel for you. Saw on Scuttlebutt today that the dam repair is scheduled for 2007. Rather than sell your boat, I surely would recommend bringing her up to Portland. I know it's a bit of travel for you, but it would be a new venue, new sights to see, and a great group of Fleet 94 sailors would welcome you. I realize it's more inconvenient that Fern Ridge, but it might be worth the round trip to get some good sailing in. We are meeting on Jan 2 at 2 PM in Battle Ground to discuss our fleet plans: racing, cruising (maybe to Desolation Sound?). You would be more than welcome to come up and meet some of our great fleet members. Lemme know and I will shoot you directions......

Gary B.
Fleet 94 Captain
Encore! #685 SK/SR

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