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Douglas County
Oregon Offshore Wave Energy Research, Development and
Demonstration (RD&D) Center
The Port of Umpqua is actively supporting the OSU
project and sponsored a presentation by OSU's team to inform
the community on August 19, 2005, about this project and
provide the latest information. It was attended by
approximately 150 legislators and agency representatives but
mostly by local residents. The community will be kept
informed and given an opportunity to support this exciting
venture too, by the formation of a local chapter of POWER -
People of Oregon for Wave Energy Resources.
Research conducted by the Oregon State University (OSU)
and the Electric Research Power Institute (EPRI) show that
the Oregon coastline has one of the richest ocean wave
energy climates in the nation. This proposed facility, to be
located in Douglas County and to be owned and operated by OSU,
will be the first such facility in the United States. The
unique combination of OSU's track record in successful wave
energy research and the tremendous wave potential off
Douglas County, Oregon makes the state an ideal location for
this innovative renewable energy RD&D. As the technology
becomes commercialized, we see a positive economic impact
for Douglas County. The construction, operation and
maintenance of wave power plants will create jobs, promote
economic development and improve the state's and nation's
energy self-sufficiency. an additional benefit is that we
intend to create a unique research and testing facility
where our students can obtain an enhanced, hands-on
industrial experience, while meeting the needs of the Energy
Systems Industry. More Information:
EPRI ocean energy web site or
OSU or
OSU
Energy Download a pdf describing the project
HERE
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Salmon Harbor
Marina RV Park
Many joint projects between the Port and Douglas County, resulted in the establishment of the Harbor and Marina RV Park and surrounding facilities. A Port representative serves on the 3-member Committee which oversees the operations of this major area attraction which brings considerable jobs and revenue to the community.
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Winchester Bay
Commercial Fishing Dock
A total renovation of this dock was completed in 2000 by the Port at a total cost of over $250,000, financed by grants and loans. This upgrade retained the local commercial fishing fleet which in 2002-3 saw 5 fish buyers and over 35 vessels utilize the dock. The Port provides a Dock Assistant and a Hyster to facilitate the offloading of crab, salmon, tuna and several species of groundfish. The jobs and revenue for the community, resulting from this investment by the Port, is estimated to be in the millions of dollars.
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Industrial Park
A major renovation of the shipyard was undertaken in the mid/late 90's and this facilitated the sale to the current tenant - Fred Wahl Marine Construction, Inc. - to retain this valuable and widely recognized business. It services not only the local vessels, but many travel from Alaska and other areas for the expert work it performs. The Port retained a portion of the dock for use by other vessels. The Port also leases a portion of its industrial park to Tyree Oil.
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Steamboat Island
The island is utilized for wetland mitigation and is the only property in the county available for this purpose.
The Port recently permitted Les Schwab Tire Company to
utilize a small portion of this mitigation site, allowing
them to build their new facility in Reedsport and remain in
the area. In 2005, the community of Gardiner has been given
permission to use a small part of the Island as a staging
area for a July 4 Firework Display and also another one in
October when they will celebrate Founder's Day. It is also home to a wide variety of birds and other wildlife.
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Port Building
In 2002, the Port purchased the land and building, formerly housing 2 local unions. After considerable renovation and redecoration, the Port's offices were moved to this new downtown facility in October 2002. The building also provides a large meeting room for use by the community.
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Umpqua River
The Port is responsible for securing funding for dredging by the Army Corps of Engineers
from the federal government for the channel from the mouth of the river, more than 11 miles upstream to a turning basin at Reedsport.
Funding for 2006 is in the Water and Energy bill currently
being considered. $225,000 was recommended by the
House and $679,000 by the Senate, which would only be
sufficient to dredge the bar and the entrances to Salmon
Harbor. Congress has ultimately approved $611,00 for
2006. This dredging keeps the river navigable for
commercial river traffic. Additionally the Port works with
the Corps for emergency dredging in the channel. Emergency
dredging was recently limited to one day on October 31,
2005, at an estimated cost of $79,000. Inclement weather
prohibited any further dredging for 2005.
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Bolon Island –
American Bridge
After Douglas County purchased Bolon Island, the Port was the lead agency in 2000-01 in developing a Master Plan for the island. Subsequently, with the help of the State, the Port was part of an extensive community-wide effort to attract American Bridge to the area. This Fortune 500 company purchased the property from the County and established its new west coast location on the Island, which will eventually provide an estimated 120 new jobs in the area, as well as those for construction of the manufacturing plant and the new dock.
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GRWB
S.T.E.P.
The Gardiner Reedsport Winchester Bay Salmon Trout Enhancement Program (GRWB S.T.E.P.) has been a joint project of the Port and other agencies for a number of years. The program now raises Chinook Salmon exclusively. Volunteers net the returning salmon and the eggs are taken to the hatchery, where they are hatched and initially raised before being transferred to the pens in Salmon Harbor. Several thousand are tagged and over 100,000 fry are released annually into the harbor and both the Umpqua and Smith Rivers. This has greatly enhanced the commercial and recreational fishing, bringing thousands of dollars back to the community.
» Click here for more info
» Click here to email local coordinator Dan Kristoffersen
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