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2 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Iconic Ashland bookstore to celebrate 35th anniversary on April 19 Ashland Contemporary Theatre seeks new artistic director Why OLLI matters: A personal perspective Police Reports Have you filed your tax return yet? Education Why OLLI matters: A personal perspective Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Dianne Williamson: College admissions mania ill-advised Rotary Club of Ashland names Riley O'Sullivan as Student of the Month Teacher's Tips: Who gets to teach history? Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers With pre-season conditions worst in 25 years, catastrophic wildfires expected in region this summer Business Iconic Ashland bookstore to celebrate 35th anniversary on April 19 Test Drive: 2015 Honda Accord Cars We Remember: The original Candymatic Ramchargers Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Tot owners buy Playwright, hire Amuse chef Politics and elections Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Short-term rental restrictions kept in some areas, loosened in others Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Mark L. Hopkins: Looking for a political straight shooter Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Nation - World Leonard Nimoy, famous as Mr. Spock on 'Star Trek,' dies Obituaries Alicia Applegate Hardy Death Notices Rosalind Dee Death Notices Norman Christlieb Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Sports Latest Stories Guthrie kicks off fundraising drive Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Grizz bats heat up in Bend Kansas City Royals star pitcher Jeremy Guthrie visits Ashland to kickoff fundraising campaign Ducks enjoy the challenge High school Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Grizzlies rally past GP, to 2-0 start Ashland boys capture another Sato Cup snowboard title at Mt. Bachelor Fredrickson leads Grizzlies to season-opening romp Grizz alpine skiers finish strong at state Southern Oregon University Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Ducks enjoy the challenge Oregon bows out Oregon State women come up short in second-round loss to Gonzaga Raiders roughed up at Corban Voices Latest Stories Granlund cartoon: Kraft and Heinz merger Landgren cartoon: Muddy baseball fields Our View: How it should work Letters to the Editor, March 25 Rick Holmes: What addicts say about getting high and getting better Editorial Our View: How it should work Our View: Ashland High principal is the head of her class Our View: Tuition trauma Our View: SOU's economic clout Our view: Keep it simple in developing marijuana rules Letters Letters to the Editor, March 25 Letters to the Editor, March 23 Letters to the Editor, March 20 Letters to the Editor, March 19 Letters to the Editor, March 18 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Guest Opinion: Ashland schools failed to protect my son from bullying Columns Council Corner: Getting to yes or no — or maybe Chris Honoré: 'Like a ghastly rapid river, through the pale door, a hideous throng rush out ...' Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Herb Rothschild: Donating with care Matthew T. Mangino: When is a confession not a confession? Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Community blog: Words, wine and Craig Wright 4 Things To Do This Week Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Best bets for entertainment around Ashland, March 19 Theater Ashland Contemporary Theatre seeks new artistic director Ticket Availability The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Ticket Availability Camelot Theatre in Talent: This 'Sunset' is not as dark Music Album reviews: Recent and recommended for March The Farr Side: New format for ‘American Idol’ as show continues a strong run Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center The Farr Side: Madonna — ever the trendsetter Nitty Gritty Dirt Band co-founder John McEuen performs at the Unitarian Fellowship in Ashland Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: ‘The Gunman’ misses the target Movie listings: March 20-26 More wonderful wrinkles at 'The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' 8 must-see spring films Movie review: ‘Wrecking Crew’ is a look at the people who really put the bomp Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Joanna McQuillan Weeks: Almond cookies pass the test Page Onorato: Cranky old winter may finally come to an end Garden Cameos: Welcome spring to the garden Page Onorato: Come grow old along with me, someday Tammy Kelly: Lighten up traditional Easter desserts Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Iconic Ashland bookstore to celebrate 35th anniversary on April 19 ... Ticket Availability ... Have you filed your tax return yet? ... Iconic Ashland bookstore to celebrate 35th anniversary on April 19 ... Ticket Availability ... Have you filed your tax return yet? ... RECREATION Howard Prairie up for a makeover County wants to overhaul docks, ramps and other parts of marina Comment By Mark Freeman For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Mark Freeman For the Tidings Posted Mar. 23, 2015 at 12:01 AM Updated Mar 23, 2015 at 10:27 AM By Mark Freeman For the Tidings Posted Mar. 23, 2015 at 12:01 AM Updated Mar 23, 2015 at 10:27 AM » Social News ASHLAND — Patched together over more than 50 years, the marina at Howard Prairie Resort seems like a project even extreme makeover shows might shun. The ramps, which are not up to snuff with the Americans with Disabilities Act, lead to weathered docks with splinter-a-minute planks. Some of the pilings that keep those docks in check sit atop bedrock and are so poorly braced with rebar it takes only  two fingers to move them. "You can actually make it wiggle," says Steve Lambert, manager of Jackson County Parks Services, which owns and runs the marina. No dockside sewage dump station means boaters must carry their portable toilets up the ramp to a suitable dump site that's been in place only one boating season at this popular reservoir east of Ashland. "For years, they carried it over and dumped it where the RVs dump," Lambert says. "That's not good." County officials wanting to do good for thousands of fishers and sailors who visit this hub of Howard Prairie activity are about to launch an effort to bring the marina's amenities into the 21st century. They plan a complete redesign and overhaul of the docks, ramps and other facets of the marina that have been serving lake users since 1962, and possibly even expanding and moving the docks into deep water so they aren't lying unusable on mud flaps in drought years like this one. This spring the county will seek bid proposals on the design and engineering of the new facility, which could be up and running in three or four years. Preliminary estimates place the overall cost at roughly $1.5 million to $2 million, depending upon the design features, Lambert says. The county has set aside $100,000 for the design and engineering phase, and that's matched by a $100,000 grant from the federal Bureau of Reclamation, which built the lake and the marina. Once designed, the county will seek grants from the Bureau of Reclamation and Oregon State Marine Board to make it happen. When completed, the new-look marina won't be smaller and might not be larger because the county wants to ensure good use of the space available. It might not even look like the current "wish list" early draft drawing that would move the entire marina from the south side of the boat ramp to water 15 feet deeper on the north side of the ramp. Lambert says he'd ultimately like to add more slips for overnight moorage, which is popular during peak spring and fall fishing seasons. "We don't want to go less than what we have, but it's all cost-driven," Lambert says. And Lambert hopes the future marina will include a waterside sewage pump station so boaters don't have to make that tenuous trek with their portable toilets anymore. "We have old facilities," Lambert says. "The marina pretty much has outlived its lifespan. It's time to provide what the boaters want to see here." While boaters are largely behind the effort to improve docks that qualify for AARP cards, the county is also interested in altering the resort's ramp so trailered powerboats and even larger sailboats can get in and out during low-water times this year. "It's definitely necessary," says Jesse Repp from the Rogue Yacht Club, which will sail at Lost Creek and Emigrant lakes instead of Howard Prairie because of low water and access problems. "As sailors, we sail where there's wind and water. "Being able to use the lake needs to be the primary focus before adding some amenities we can't use," Repp says. Lambert says the ramp already goes as deep as it can there because it hits a long flat before the reservoir's contour changes. That's why the county's "wish list" design puts the marina in deeper water, supplanting some of the buoys now used to anchor boats overnight, Lambert says. While some buoys would remain, it could lead to more transient slips, he says. "The vast majority of people want to be in docks," he says. "And it makes it useable for the majority of boats when the ramp is useable. "This is kind of shooting for the stars," he says. "We'll see from the engineers if it's something that can be done." Regardless of what design is chosen, if and when construction begins will hinge on securing grants, Lambert says. The bureau has a grant program that can match up to 50 percent of the project, and the Marine Board will be looked at to cover costs of some specific subsets of the overall project. The Marine Board, for instance, has separate grants that can fund the rebuilding of public docks used for short-term "transient" moorage for boaters renting slips for three days or less, Lambert says. Those grants would allow a design that could separate overnight moorings from boats docked at the resort season-long, with that portion possibly even gated for more security, Lambert says. Currently there is no extra security for moored boats, he says. The lake is now about half-full, and with virtually no snowpack within its upper drainage, Howard Prairie is expected to get very low again this summer, exposing the marina's understructures. "We want to take advantage of these low-water conditions so the engineers can see what they're doing and not be underwater," Lambert says. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 541-776-4470 or [email protected]. Follow him at www.twitter.com/MTwriterFreeman. By Mark Freeman For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Mark Freeman For the Tidings Posted Mar. 23, 2015 at 12:01 AM Updated Mar 23, 2015 at 10:27 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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