Sunriver owners OK Deschutes River boat ramp
A proposal to construct a boat ramp on the Deschutes River in Sunriver was approved by 86 percent of members of the Sunriver Owners Association who cast ballots in SROA’s Aug. 9 election.
The measure passed with 1,835 yes votes versus 219 opposed. Members also renewed the terms of two incumbents (Bob Nelson, Roger Smith) and elected one new member (Jim Fister) to the SROA Board of Directors.
The new boat ramp, associated parking lot and restrooms, is estimated to cost $370,000. The funds will come from SROA reserve accounts, meaning no additional expenses to members of the Sunriver Owners Association, who pay $107.64 per month to maintain 65 miles of roads, 30 miles of paved pathways, the SHARC aquatic center, two parks and more than 1,000 acres of commons.
The SROA boat ramp will be constructed on the Sunriver Marina lagoon. It will provide owners and their guests with access to the Wild & Scenic Deschutes River that runs along the western boundary of Sunriver. The ramp will be constructed on a 13-acre parcel the owners association acquired through a land exchange with Sunriver Resort in 2012.
The Sunriver boat ramp project is subject to review by a number of land use agencies including the Oregon Department of State Lands, Fish & Wildlife, Deschutes National Forest and Deschutes County. The project has already received approval of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Oregon Parks & Recreation Department.
Pending necessary approvals and permits, construction is scheduled to begin this fall and will continue through winter as weather permits. The Sunriver owners boat ramp is scheduled to open for use by owners and guests in May 2015.
