FEBRUARY 2008: AROUND THE STATE
Killer sandbar turns sweet
This aerial of the Hood River sandbar was taken a
year ago. The event site is on the right.
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HOOD RIVER We
forget in the face of this year’s rampaging storms that
there was another whopper last winter that created an instant
island at the mouth of Hood River. The storm-churned delta
threatened riverfront development, the well-being of the
area’s wind recreation industry and generally whipped up
the locals.
But a year later, the once-dreaded delta has emerged as the
premier kiteboarding venue on the West Coast, according to
Michael McElwee, executive director of the Port of Hood River.
It’s big, broad and sandy, with good access, and it
helped make the past year a record one for the event site,
McElwee says. Until the storm, the port-owned spit, used by
kiteboarders, and the event site, used by windsurfers, were
separate areas. The predicted feud between the wind jockeys
never happened, with the two groups creating a collaborative
and self-enforced management of the delta area.
Instead of being detrimental, the delta has become a
significant asset. “What a gift from Mother
Nature,” McElwee says.
In addition, Naito Development is moving ahead with its plan
for 50 condos at Nichols Boat Basin, McElwee says. Last year,
Bob Naito said without the marina portion of the planned
project, stalled because the delta clogged the basin, he
wasn’t sure the project would continue.
And off the delta, riverfront news also perks, with the
likelihood of Full Sail Brewing leasing a large portion of the
expo center for its corporate offices, a new plan for the
expansion of Hood River Marina nearing approval (which includes
20 new slips by summer) and continued enhancement of the event
site.
ROBIN DOUSSARD
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