Port reviews options for aging Orondo River Park dock

WENATCHEE — Officials with the Chelan-Douglas Regional Port Authority spent significant time on March 10 discussing the future of the aging boat dock at Orondo River Park, weighing repair costs, long-term maintenance needs and whether the Columbia River recreation site should continue supporting the same level of boating infrastructure.

The discussion followed a presentation by Construction Project Manager Nick Rohrbach and Director of Property & Maintenance Ron Russ, who outlined the condition of the dock and several possible paths forward.

Orondo River Park, originally developed by the Port of Douglas County in 1972, is a roughly five-acre day-use park jointly owned with Chelan County PUD and operated under an interlocal agreement with the utility. The current agreement, signed in 2022, runs for 10 years and can be renewed in five-year increments.

Operating the park costs about $60,000 to $65,000 per year, Russ said, with Chelan County PUD covering roughly half of those expenses under the agreement.

Russ told commissioners the dock remains structurally sound but is showing clear signs of age.

“The decking is starting to warp. We've got some screws popping loose and things like that,” Russ said, noting that maintenance crews have been tightening hardware and replacing boards as needed.

An engineering review conducted last fall by Pacific Engineering found the structure itself remains stable but warned that the dock’s pilings are approaching the end of their useful life, prompting the Port to begin considering more significant work.

Rohrbach said the engineering report presented two primary construction options.

Repairing the existing dock as it stands today — including replacing pilings and making structural improvements — would cost approximately $500,000 to $600,000, not including design fees.

A full replacement of the dock would cost closer to $1 million, based on current construction estimates.

A third option discussed with Chelan County PUD staff would involve building a smaller dock footprint, potentially reducing the cost of a full replacement by roughly 20% to 25%.

Commissioners also discussed the possibility of removing the dock entirely.

“That option is on the table,” Rohrbach said, noting that the Port could declare the structure obsolete and seek approval from the Washington Recreation and Conservation Office to remove it without replacing it.

However, staff warned that doing so could make it difficult to restore a dock in the future.

With current permitting requirements on the Columbia River, a dock removed today might not be allowed to be rebuilt later.

“If it was removed and then you come back… the dock is gone as it is now, we wouldn't be able to get permits to put another dock in,” said Ryan Baker, Chelan PUD parks manager.

The dock serves boaters using the park’s public launch, though the Port does not currently track launch-specific usage.

Russ said the best available estimate is about 8,000 to 9,000 unique vehicle visits annually at the park, based on vehicle counter data maintained by Chelan County PUD.

Commissioners also compared the park with other river recreation facilities in the region.

Chelan County Commissioner Donn Etherington noted that nearby sites such as Daroga State Park, Lincoln Rock State Park and Beebe Bridge Park also provide boat launches and docking access.

Still, Douglas County commissioners emphasized the park’s value to their communities.

“The park as a whole is really a gem,” said Douglas County Commissioner Jim Huffman, noting that the site hosts community gatherings and remains popular with boaters and anglers.

“It’s a really nice facility for that area in the county,” he said.

Commissioners appeared open to the possibility of a scaled-down replacement dock that would still support the boat launch while reducing long-term costs.

One option discussed would remove the existing moorage slips and instead build a simpler handling float, allowing boaters to briefly tie up while launching or retrieving vessels.

Staff also outlined newer dock construction materials that could extend the life of a replacement structure.

Modern docks increasingly use fiberglass-reinforced decking instead of wood, which allows more light to reach the water and requires less maintenance. Steel pilings are also replacing older wooden pilings in many installations.

Depending on location and wave exposure, newer docks typically have a life expectancy of 35 to 50 years, staff said.

Commissioners asked staff to continue exploring options, including potential cost-sharing with Chelan County PUD and ways to better measure usage at the launch, such as installing a boat-and-trailer counter.

For now, the existing dock will remain in place while the Port evaluates its next steps.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media