Recent WA restrictions - do they affect boat ramps?

S

Stearmandriver2

New member
Anyone have any gouge as to whether the recent state and county restrictions on "water access" closes boat ramps? I'm in Port Orchard send usually use that ramp but could travel a reasonable distance for an open ramp if necessary.

Please note, I'm not trying to subvert the intent of the "shelter in place" (I'm probably more of a disease vector than anyone, given that I'm an airline pilot by day). It's just that I'm going to have some time off, and the water seems like a reasonable place to isolate. I'd like to know if I can splash the boat without running afoul of anything...
 
Here in California they closed all parks and that includes the boat ramps that I use to go fishing/boating.(ocean and lakes).
I took the boat out last weekend and there was only three other trucks with boat trailers in the parking lot so it seemed at the time people were practicing safe distancing. Upon my return from a nice day on the water there were about 75 cars (without boats) and about 5 Motorhome’s parked in the parking lot and they were utilizing the picnic tables on the shoreline for family gatherings and parties all too close together.
The state parks here in California made it free to go to the beach so that they did not have to staff the pay booths to protect their workers during this outbreak and people from all over rushed to the coast.
On my return home at around 3:00 I had never seen a line of cars so long headed to the beaches and figured they would shut it down and a few days later they did.
Salmon season starts here on April 11th so I’m hopeful that the virus gets under control or the state figures out how to limit the number of people visiting their parks so that boaters can go fishing or cruising with their families and people without boats can enjoy the beach while practicing safe distancing.
 
I found this information below on my county’s web site where the beaches are. Maybe you will be able to look up the information on your beaches county web...

Effective at 12:00 a.m. on March 24, 2020, and remaining in effect until this order is rescinded, amended, or superseded in writing by the Health Officer, all parks located within Sonoma County shall be closed to the public.
“Park” means an area of land, beach or water open to the public for recreation, including walking, hiking, biking, relaxing, boating, and playing, regardless of ownership.
 
I'd check with the local ramp governing entity (city, county etc) re; launch, parking etc. But I can tell you that I don't believe LE is going to give a rat's a** about your boating plans. We have much, much bigger priorities to deal with...
 
Interesting Mark that you don't seem to consider that folks might actually choose to follow these restrictions simply because it's the right thing to do for the community. (.....an occupational hazard I assume).
 
smckean (Tosca)":2dxdn2hh said:
Interesting Mark that you don't seem to consider that folks might actually choose to follow these restrictions simply because it's the right thing to do for the community. (.....an occupational hazard I assume).
Click to expand...

What, exactly, would he be violating? The restriction to "hunker down"? As noted, he will be on a boat, out on the water...kinda takes "social distancing" to a new level. He asked a question. I provided some input. Period. Where did I say or infer that people will not chose to do anything because it's the "right thing"?
 
localboy":7d6afevn said:
smckean (Tosca)":7d6afevn said:
Interesting Mark that you don't seem to consider that folks might actually choose to follow these restrictions simply because it's the right thing to do for the community. (.....an occupational hazard I assume).
Click to expand...

What, exactly, would he be violating? The restriction to "hunker down"? As noted, he will be on a boat, out on the water...kinda takes "social distancing" to a new level. He asked a question. I provided some input. Period. Where did I say or infer that people will not chose to do anything because it's the "right thing"?
Click to expand...

Agreed!!, Can’t get more isolated than being on your boat and for me it was a well needed break.
 
all of WA state parks and WDFW managed facilities are closed. County, city and private, who knows, check their web site or call. I just checked on the Port of Ridgefield ramp here on the Columbia and it was business as usual.
As mentioned WDFG shut down all recreational fishing in the state, OR just shut down salmon & steelhead fishing on the Columbia. That overpriced OR out of state license is looking is looking more reasonable.
good luck
 
Might check Salisbury boat ramp next to the Hood canal bridge. The docks are pulled for the winter so I would try to launch at slack tide. The playground was taped off but nothing across the boat ramp. I would call Kitsap county parks department.
 
Just in case anyone contemplates driving up to Prince Rupert, BC, the boat launch in Prince Rupert is closed due to Covid-19, same situation at MK Bay Marina in Kitimat (no launching of boats, parking lot is closed). Also, there are no fuel sales in Hartley Bay.
 
It's a shame that some ramps are being closed down, and seems a bit short sighted as there are a lot of people who live on islands in WA state and commuting via boat is just as essential the roads and highways are for us land lubbers.

That said, here's a quick list of NON- state park / DNR / WDFW launching facilities I have checked, based on current COVID19 status statements on their websites as of today. Starting at the top of the state and working around the sound clockwise, with links so you can check back occasionally for updates:
- Blaine (port of Bellingham) - OPEN
- Bellingham (Squalicum and Fairhaven)- OPEN
- Anacortes, Cap Sante (Sling Launch/Fuel Dock) - OPEN
- Anacortes, Twin Bridges (private, but many C-Brats) - OPEN
- Anacortes, Washington Park - Currently OPEN, "but subject to change"
- Everett - Half of ramps are closed, half are open but limited to essential activities such as Hat Island residents. Reserves right to completely close ramps if they observe abuse of policy.
- Mukilteo - Lighthouse Park is CLOSED
- Edmonds - Fuel dock, Dry stack, and Public Sling Launch - CLOSED
- Shilshole (City of Seattle) - Parks page says boat launches are OPEN, although same site says parking lots are closed?
- Alki (city of Seattle) - same as above - OPEN?
- Redondo (City of Desmoines) - Fuel dock OPEN, no info on ramp, assume the same.
- Point Defiance (City of Tacoma) - Ramp is OPEN, lift is CLOSED
-Swantown (Port of Olympia) - Fuel dock OPEN, but no info on ramp.
- Port of Grapeview ramp (Fair Harbor area) - No information
- Port of Allyn ramp - No information
- Pierce County ramps (various) - No info indicating they are closed.
- Pomeroy Park (manchester) - OPEN
- Port Orchard (City of Port Orchard) - unclear - Parks are closed, no mention of ramp
- Evergreen Rotary Park (City of Bremerton) - CLOSED
- Silverdale (port of Silverdale) - "all port facilities CLOSED"
- Port of Brownsville - Fuel Dock OPEN, launch ramp not specified
- Port of Poulsbo - nothing indicating it is closed....OPEN?
- Port of Kingston - Not finding any information on closures...OPEN?
- Salsbury Point Park (Kitsap County Parks) - Site says all parks are CLOSED, although report above indicates ramp may be accessible

Obviously with orders to stay home, I now have too much time on my hands..
 
“Obviously with orders to stay home, I now have too much time on my hands..”

Mike,
I still have to report to work as a first responder so could you do a search on open ramps for Sonoma county California ??
:P :lol:
 
Haha thanks Mike, that was above and beyond!

I figured there'd be confusion about this. Weather looks lousy this weekend, but when it breaks next week I'm going to test out the Port Orchard ramp and see what I can find out. Will report back. If anyone hears anything in the meantime, feel free to share.

The comparison I'm using here involves general aviation airports, which are NOT closed during this. Yes, they are infrastructure used for some essential activities (just as boat ramps are used by law enforcement, first responders, and essential commercial operators etc), but they are used overwhelmingly for recreational aviation, and that seems to be interpreted as just fine during these restrictions. If locals can use that runway to go buzz around in their Cessnas and Bonanzas, not sure why I couldn't use a boat ramp to go tool around in my boat. It would seem to be the same level of exposure, ie none...
 
I'm just surprised in Washington I can still run over to the local bikini coffee stand for a peep show, afterwards grab a Big mac meal at the Mickey Dees and some legal weed from the weed stores because all that is obviously "essential". But all my friends who work in the trades, my plumber friends, electricians, people who do "non essential" jobs that keep peoples basic needs at home working properly are out of a job right now. Good job Enslee, that makes total sense.
 
Here in Alberta I only know of one boat ramp that has been shut down, that being at Lake Minnewanka, in Banff National Park. All the National Parks are closed. The other ramps are open as far as I know, but you have to remember that the lakes still have a foot of snow over three feet of ice. I wish I was living somewhere I could even consider taking the boat out now. The ski hills and many of the cross country ski trails still have great skiing, but they are closed. We have cancelled our April trip to Vancouver Island, so will have to wait until May to get on the water in our kayaks and later in the C-Dory.
 
PaulNBriannaLynn":arwgl2r0 said:
I'm just surprised in Washington I can still run over to the local bikini coffee stand for a peep show, afterwards grab a Big mac meal at the Mickey Dees and some legal weed from the weed stores because all that is obviously "essential". But all my friends who work in the trades, my plumber friends, electricians, people who do "non essential" jobs that keep peoples basic needs at home working properly are out of a job right now. Good job Enslee, that makes total sense.
Click to expand...

I read that either the city of Denver or the whole state of Colorado briefly decreed that liquor and weed shops were non-essential. The panicked crowded runs on these places the day before they were to close accomplished the opposite of the distancing intended, so liquor and weed are once again essential. :D

In seriousness, a physician friend told me that keeping liquor stores open is probably smart. Sad as it is, denying addicts a physically addictive substance would create a run on the hospitals that they can't handle right now.
 
Paul, re: tradespeople being able to work in Washington state: the plumbers and electricians you mention can still work if they choose, because they perform necessary/emergent repairs. Same goes for other construction workers if their work is urgent, emergent, or being done to serve a publicly required purpose (road repair, IT infrastructure/telecommunications, marine transportation, etc.).
Many are furloughed because the end customers have directed the work to be shut down. And of course, nonessential construction and remodeling needs to be shut down, (including a project that I am doing with my son which I would really like to proceed on but can’t).

It is frustrating, but as you and I well know, infection control on job sites is often an afterthought, and workers must often work shoulder to shoulder due to the nature of the work itself.

I am very much a critic of Governor Inslee, but I believe in this case he is making the right call. In fact it seems to be working. Hang in there!
 
PaulNBriannaLynn":3ft8ugl0 said:
I'm just surprised in Washington I can still run over to the local bikini coffee stand for a peep show, afterwards grab a Big mac meal at the Mickey Dees and some legal weed from the weed stores because all that is obviously "essential". But all my friends who work in the trades, my plumber friends, electricians, people who do "non essential" jobs that keep peoples basic needs at home working properly are out of a job right now. Good job Enslee, that makes total sense.
Click to expand...

It's WA State. If it's common sense, logical and realistic...they gov't will order the opposite. Somehow pot shops are "essential" but gun shops need to close. At the same time, they are releasing criminals in droves. I noticed they somehow got the approval to continue to work on the Key Arena remodel (NHL and allegedly NBA at some point). Hmmmm.... Yes, because that is "essential". Sure. How did that decision get made? I know. Someone's re-election campaign account got a huge deposit...


I am very much a critic of Governor Inslee, but I believe in this case he is making the right call. In fact it seems to be working. Hang in there!
Click to expand...

I would say it is working. However, mixed into this policy stew certain, specific policies are being enacted and forced. While others are ignored and supported, based purely on political ideology. See mj shops vs gun shops. One being opened means it lessens their financial risk. By closing the others, they face the threat of financial insolvency and closure. Both "wins" according to some.

If I owned a gun shop, I'd put some canned goods, household items on a shelf. Bam. Now I'm an essential grocery store that just happens to also sell guns.
 
Localboy:

I absolutely agree about the dangers of government infringement under the color of emergency authority. I'm sure the gun shops could stay open by appointment with strict infection control, whereas I question how essential pot shops really are to our civic well-being, at a time when pulmonary health is at a premium.

We've seen examples throughout history of government using a crisis (or even contriving a crisis) to achieve ill-intended goals. I believe this situation warrants social restrictions, but I have also noticed some selective enforcement choices.

Here's hoping we get over the infection hump quickly, and have our civil liberties restored fully.
 
Back
Top