Minds are coming together on how to
share the newly formed Hood River delta among varied recreational
users.
So far, the Port of Hood River and user groups seem to be cooperating
well on what is definitely new territory.While the Port, user
groups and neighboring businesses focus their attention on potential
windsurfing access at the Event Site, toward the west end of the Hood
River waterfront, this spring the delta itself has seen enough
activity to give pause.
Kiters (both riding and just plain flying them) have flocked to the
crescent-shaped main beach on the delta, as well as the smaller spits
and islands that have formed well into the river.
Meanwhile, other “signs of life” can be seen on this emerging
landscape — indicators that people have found these places and are
starting to make them their own, from a recreational standpoint.
To be specific, last Saturday these items were left on the new
beaches along the Hood and Columbia rivers: beer bottles, burned logs
from campfires, a sand shovel, a deflated beach ball, dog excrement,
and a realty sign.
People are starting to take ownership of firm land where water
flowed just six months ago. It amounts to more material to be
considered by the people monitoring current and expanded uses of the
waterfront and delta.
