The view of the Hood River waterfront has changed during the past four months, with the emergence of a 26-acre piece of land known as the delta at the confluence of the Columbia and Hood rivers.
Intense storms that hammered Hood River County Nov. 5-8 sloughed dirt, boulders and trees off the mountain and hillsides. Much of that material flowed down the Hood River and landed in the Columbia River.
While a delta is not a new phenomenon to the area as historic photographs from the 1930s show such a formation has existed before, many decades have passed since then. In the meantime, use at the waterfront has changed both for industry and recreation.
The Hood River News begins a new series, “Dealing with the Delta.”
* The series begins with a recap of the Port of Hood River’s efforts to address impacts on the waterfront.
This week Port Director Michael McElwee and Port Commission Chairwoman Sherry Bohn are in Washington, D.C., talking to congressmen about legislative funding to conduct a study of the impact to the mouth of the Hood River and up the reach.
* Future segments will include the impact to downtown businesses and the status of cruise ships coming to Hood River.
* “Dealing With The Delta” will also examine how recreation user groups will cope this season with sharing space and the changes in the landscape.
* The series will also look at the environmental impacts for Columbia River fisheries and the watershed.
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