Dworshak Reservoir; Big Eddy Marina plans call for 60 boat slips, gas dock

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is preparing final drawings for its project to rebuild the Big Eddy Marina along Dworshak Reservoir.

The plans call for the marina to provide berths for 60 boats and a gas dock.

The biggest question that's come up during a public review of the plans has been when boaters can sign up for a slip, said Pete Summerton, a corps park ranger at the Dworshak office at Ahsahka.

Aside from an obvious eagerness for the return of a marina to the 54-mile-long reservoir, questions fielded by the corps also focused on what sort of security would be provided for the marina and whether electrical and water hookups would be available.

Specifics about the gas dock operation were also a high profile issue for boaters, Summerton said.

On nearly all fo the operational issues, he said, the operator of the marina will provide the answers, once an operator is chosen.

The Nez Perce Tribe holds the lease on the marina and has subleased it to Gary Medley of Orofino in recent years.

When Lt. Col. James Weller, the corps Walla Walla District engineer, announced in October that the agency had received $250,000 for the marina work negotiations about the operation of the marina were in progress.

The marina was destroyed in a fierce windstorm in June 1992.

After more than two years of no boat slips or gasoline services on the reservoir, the public is eager for their return, Summerton said.

"By far, the large majority of comments are positive with the No. 1 concern being, When can I sign up,' " he added.

The corps doesn't yet have a date to begin soliciting bids on the project but the project is scheduled to be finished in time for the start of the summer recreation season.

The marina plan calls for slips for 60 boats less than 24-feet long and a dozen for boates longer than 24 feet. Dock access will be by the existing stairway.

The other major concern of Dworshak boaters is whether Dworshak Reservoir's level will drop again next summer to provide water to flush salmon downstream and when the fish flush will stop.

The corps has also issued an environmental assessment reviewing a project to extend the boat ramp at Dworshak State Park. The public comment deadline for the project will be Jan. 2.

The corps plans to extend the ramp by 53 feet so it would extend down to elevation 1485 feet, 115 below the reservoir's level when it's full.

The corps extended the Dent Acres Recreation Area boat ramp late this summer to extend down to 1485 feet.