Dockton marina will remain closed to overnight mooring

County must decide on mitigation scenario

By Sarah Low • May 15, 2019 1:30 am
Barricades block access at Dockton Marina after the piers and breakwater suffered significant structural damage this winter. (Susan Riemer/Staff Photo)
Barricades block access at Dockton Marina after the piers and breakwater suffered significant structural damage this winter. (Susan Riemer/Staff Photo)

After closing all but the main pier at Dockton Park in March due to winter weather causing significant structural damage to the breakwater and finger piers, the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks has decided that the affected areas will remain closed for the foreseeable future. This means that there will be no overnight moorage at the marina this summer.

According to Doug Williams, a spokesman for DNR and Parks, the county had been planning on making improvements to the aging marina facilities with a $373,000 grant from the Recreation and Conservation office, and had already budgeted $500,000 in the department’s capital funds for overall infrastructure improvements at the popular island boat park. Marina infrastructure was also identified in the proposed 2020-2025 King County Parks, Trails, and Open Space Replacement levy, and if approved, a portion of the levy proceeds will also go toward work at the facility.

Now the county must decide on a plan for a much more extensive repair and replacement scenario.

According to Williams and a press release from DNR and Parks, the options are:

• Design, permit, and construct full replacement in kind, of all existing floats, finger piers, breakwater, and pilings.

• Design, permit, and construct redesigned replacement for all existing floats, finger piers, breakwater, and pilings.

• Design, permit, and construct reduced footprint replacement for all existing floats, finger piers, breakwater, and pilings.

• Design, permit, and construct rehabilitation measures for the existing floats, finger piers, and breakwater.

“The initial grant was for general upgrades, improvements and fixes,” Williams said. “Now the work will be more significant. The dock will remain closed until whatever mitigation is decided upon, happens. And it’s important to note that whichever option is chosen will likely require in-water work, which requires permits. It will take time. It’s going to be a while before a final solution is in place and we can get it open again.”

A small area of the marina’s main dock remains open to boats for day-use only, free of charge, and access is on a first-come, first-served basis. All of the park’s land facilities are open as is the boat launch.