Arlington, Oregon

Site Information

• Site Coordinator: Randy Brich, mr.rb@worldnet.att.net
• Location: Arlington, Oregon. I-84, Exit 137
• Property Owner/Managing agency: Port of Arlington

New Launch Completed

Summer 2003
From: Randy Brich, CGWA board member

Arlington Mayor Ruben Wetherell helped members of the CGWA convince the City and the Port of Arlington to develop the man-made peninsula into a windsurfing recreational usage area. Noticing that the summer crowds have increased significantly at Roosevelt, a Corps park located across the river from Arlington, the Mayor reasoned that many would start using Arlington if the launch was improved. After consulting with windsurfers on what type of improvements to make, Ruben single-handedly designed and oversaw the construction of the launch. A walkway extending along the perimeter of the peninsula leads into the City Waterfront Park, making Arlington one of the few places in the entire Gorge that a family can lounge in relative luxury while their dad or mom gets a wind and swell fix at the River. Other amenities that Arlington features include an RV park adjacent to the marina, several restaurants and gas stations, a soon to be completed golf course, and tennis courts all combined into a small town atmosphere that exudes friendliness.

Over the years windsurfers have sporadically braved the shore pound at Arlington to launch in the swells. Recently CGWA made a couple of attempts to improve the launch using both sandbags and cobbles, only to be overridden by Mother Nature’s fury. This time the Mayor, with the backing of the City Council, brought in heavy equipment and constructed a fairly user friendly launch. In time more improvements will be made, and Arlington will become one of the best windsurfing locations in the desert. Now, with the advent of the recently built launch Arlington truly is an “oasis in the desert” where wind-thirsty sailors, en route to the Gorge, can take a break from the drive and get a wind fix on the evening drainage winds that frequently grace the river most nights all summer long.

Looking east	Looking west	Water entry
Looking southwest	Waterfront path	RV park
Oregon XXX Games	Oregon XXX Games Competitors

New Launch to Be Built

June 5, 2003
From: Randy Brich, CGWA board member

See below the Mayor of Arlington's email regarding the status of the soon-to-be new Arlington Launch Site.

As a result of the combined effort of many of you in building the first two primitive launches a few years ago (i.e., sandbag and river rock, resp, which were destroyed by the massive swells that form there on big days) the City of Arlington, together with the Port, recognized the potential the peninsula offers and have taken the next step toward constructing a sailor friendly launch at Arlington, to be completed by the end of June.

The Big Air Contest, sponsored by Clif Bars, replaces the Gorge Games and will consist of 3 contests at 3 locations during the period July 5-18. The locations include two in Da Gorge and Arlington as the final location. The contestants will primarily be those aerialists who frequent The Hatchery and perhaps some others who will be in town during the time of the contest. More details on the schedule for the contest will be available soon.

Also, the Port has upgraded the RV park a short distance from the sailing site. Arlington will be a unique sailing site with numerous amenities within easy walking distance of the launch site and unlike so many other Far East sailing sites, spectators will actually be close to the action as the best swells in that stretch of the river occur along the Arlington Peninsula.

 

From: Ruben Wetherell, Mayor of Arlington

"Good morning to you all, Yahoo, we did it. The council selected a proposal last night to build the launch site, and to complete the first phase of the river walk. The council is real excited about what this will mean for our fair City. With the addition of the river walk to our site I feel that we are not going to look back, and there will be great things to come. The council talked about many different things they wanted to do in the future, i.e.; add a comfort station, grass area, and expansion of the launch site.

Also last night we approved a business license for a local company, they will offer paddle boats inside our marina, and jet skies that will be used in the open water. We would like to invite you all to a ground breaking ceremony, TBA, it looks like the work will began around the 16th of June and will take about 8-10 days to complete. I would like some help spreading the word, I will try to organize it on this end and will keep you informed on when this will happen.

With the Big Air Show coming, I am thinking about a ribbon cutting ceremony on that day also. I am very excited, I would like to make this a big event for our City. Thanks for all the support."

City of Arlington Enhancing Port Area

March 2002

The City of Arlington is in the process of enhancing the port area to create a more convenient place for sailboarders to assemble their boards in a protected area and provide a better and safer launch site that allows easier access to the river.

Within walking distance of the port, the City of Arlington has a beautiful park close to the mall that will provide a safe and sheltered area for family members to swim, lounge in the shade, and have picnics. The City has recently put in a new play structure for the children to enjoy. There is also easy access to restaurants, gas stations, and local businesses.

The City of Arlington will be sponsoring several sailing events in the near future. The first of which will be held during the Annual Big River Band Festival, June 22 and 23, 2002. Come and enjoy our exciting playground of fun and adventure.

Photo: CGWA Board Member, Randy Brich (left) and Arlington Mayor Ruben Wetherell / Arlington Web site

Improvements

April 2000
From: Randy Brich (Tri-Cities, rock shoveler)

Saturday, April 15th, a great group of sailors gathered to synergistically* move nine cubic yards of rock from the manmade peninsula to the base of the sandbag trail in near record time to improve the Arlington launch site. The Port of Arlington provided permission, Larry South of the US Army Corps of Engineers provided rock, and Mercer Ranch provided 40# of nutritious baby carrots for these rock-solid volunteers: Scott Aichle, Walla Walla, rock shoveler Shirley Alderson, Tri-Cities, bucket handler Scott Alderson, Tri-Cities, whose insight and resourcefulness designed and built the chute, bucket handler Wade Bird, Tri-Cities, bucket handler Bruce Bjornstad, Tri-Cities, bucket handler Kelly Chambers, Hood River, empty bucket handler -- with a one year old baby on her back, occasional full bucket handler Brian Chambers, Hood River, rock shoveler Kathy Criddle, Tri-Cities, empty bucket handler Jim Criddle, Tri-Cities, bucket handler Mike Fick, Tri-Cities, bucket handler Brian Green, Arlington, rock shoveler Louis Marquis, Tri-Cities, bucket handler Jim Maryott, Tri-Cities, assistant bucket dumper Jon Mears (age 14 working on Boy Scout community service requirements), Tri-Cities, empty bucket handler Dave Mears, Tri-Cities, rock shoveler Michele Rounds, Tri-Cities, bucket handler Dave Sheen, Tri-Cities, bucket handler Forrest Stewart, Tri-Cities, Head bucket dumper Since the peninsula is a high energy environment, it is extremely likely that the rocks will wash away before Phase II installation of breakwaters is completed. However, Gene Leverton, a consultant to the Port of Arlington, indicated last spring that tentative verbal approval had been obtained from regulatory entities for construction of breakwaters to occur during the next in-water construction period from December 1, 2000 through March 31, 2001. A grant to build windbreaks and picnic tables on the west end of the peninsula and to upgrade the RV Park, which would also install small jetties and additional rock at the launch site, was not approved the first time around, but we hope it will be favorably received next time. This will be an on-going effort in these first steps in making Arlington a safer place to launch and a more desirable place to camp. The Port of Arlington recently approved a proposal from CGWA to provide in-kind services (labor and advice) for Phase II, showing the obvious benefits of positive, proactive involvement as espoused by Fred Noble and others. * Synergistically -- you had to be there to see it evolve and to appreciate the incredibly smooth operation of 19 individuals coalescing into a single rock moving machine -- it was pure poetry.

Photos taken during project: (Click on photo to see larger photo) The Bucket Brigade moving rock Launch site is taking shape The Crew Looking down the chute

Improvements

July 1999
From Michele Rounds of Tri-Cities, regarding the work done at Arlington.

Arlington now has a sandbag launching area! After much correspondence with Port of Arlington officials, they (and several other government agencies) recently approved this windsurfing launch area on a one-year "trial" basis. The Port Commissioners have expressed their desire for a long and mutually beneficial relationship with windsurfers from all over. This should be no problem as long as we police ourselves and cooperate on the following:

1. Launching will be from the green sandbagged area only! Please do not launch anywhere else. (The Port had considered prohibiting windsurfing in the past due to obvious safety considerations.)
2. Do not park anywhere between the grain elevators and a point that is about 40 yards east of the launching path. Please keep your vehicles on the far west end of the point or in the paved parking area near the restrooms.
3. Overnight parking is $7 (everywhere on the point!) and RV hook-up is $15/night. Payment is on the honor system. The payment box is kind of hard to see. It's on the south side of the RV area where you would walk down to the boats in the marina.
4. This doesn't really need saying because most boardheads are pretty good about it, but please don't litter. There are dumpsters near the restrooms, so you can deposit your trash there.

A few other things to keep in mind:

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT WE ARE GUESTS HERE. THE PORT STILL HAS BUSINESS TO CONDUCT AND WILL SOON BE EXPERIENCING HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC ASSOCIATED WITH HARVEST. THIS (NOT WINDSURFING) IS THEIR PURPOSE AND LIVELIHOOD. HOW THEY MANAGE THE PORT IS THEIR BUSINESS. LET'S FOCUS ON ENJOYING WHAT THEY HAVE ALLOWED AND FULLY COOPERATE WITH THE ABOVE GUIDELINES!

The launch area was built with ENTRY in to the water in mind. It might be safest to sail into the cove to the sandy beach when you want to exit the water.

Arlington has a great little park with sandy beach and swimming area (out of the wind) for non-windsurfing family members.

The Pheasant Grill & Drive Inn has six kinds of omelets and espresso. In addition to great pies, Happy Canyon Pizza has a pool table & video games. The local hotel/restaurant has great rates for the non-campers.

Please help police the area when you are there. Remind others that this is on a TRIAL BASIS ONLY. Let's make it work!

Thanks to the following "Roosevelt Rangers" who filled and placed 300 sandbags today: Special Scott Alderson, Bruce & Jared Beauchene, Brian Biro, Bruce Bjornstad, Randy Brich, Jim & Cathy Criddle, Mike Humphries, Jim Maryott and Dan Spanner. Also, Luke & Toby from Arlington helped out with the sandbag brigade.

Hope you all enjoy the launch from Arlington!

1997 Improvements

The CGWA-East Chapter has been working with the Port of Arlington on developing this site as a windsurfing park. An economic analysis was performed (by Brich and Fies) showing the area could expect about a million dollars in increased revenue due to windsurfing if the park is developed. The Port is considering further study on feasibility of this concept. More recently (March 1997), a proposal was made to the Port to provide sandbags at the west launch site to improve access during the short term. Letter received from the Port indicating they were not in favor of sand bags (April 1997)