2020 FALL Newsletter

Date Published: October 27, 2020
Category: Newsletter

2020 Fall Newsletter

Port Commissioners:

Terry Brazil – Lake Cushman

Karen Booth – Hoodsport

 The Port of Hoodsport supports efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 while maintaining essential operations.  The Port marina, dock and waterfront park facilities remain open to the public, all visitors are asked to maintain social distancing guidelines.  The port has implemented protocol to maintain the health safety, and wellbeing of port personnel, travelers, and community members.

The public restrooms are closed until further notice to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 to the public and port personnel.   To provide relief, two portable restrooms with hand washing stations have been provided for public use.  Overwhelming and excessive use of the Public Restrooms far exceeded the septic system design expectations which caused drain field failure and minimized public restroom usage prior to COVID-19.  The cost of the drain field repair along with ongoing supplies, maintenance, water and associated costs will affect the ports budget. The Port commission understands the communities need to have a public restroom, the Port along with County and community members are evaluating the situation to determine how best to proceed.

The Port’s surveillance system films the waterfront park, dock, parking area, shed, office and public restrooms, it tremendously helps with monitoring theft, dumping of household garbage and unsavory activities in and around the port properties.

The Hoodsport Trail Park and the Hoodsport Hills Disc Golf course is open to the Public. The Port of Hoodsport, in partnership with the Mason County Disc Golf Association has almost completed Phase II and plans to continue development of the professional 18-hole disc golf course at the upper Hoodsport Trail Park. Both courses value the natural aesthetics of the 80-acre park; attracting both professional & amateur disc golfers.  The Hoodsport Hills Disc Golf course crew developed Phase II, a “family friendly” beginner’s disc golf course on the level 20 acres situated on the South side of State Rt 119 parallel to the Lake Cushman Golf Course. The disc golfers have had fantastic success with the design.  Both the upper- and lower-disc golf courses were designed and developed with Volunteer labor from the disc golf community who will maintain the quality and safety of both courses throughout their life.  The upper course will minimize interface with existing hiking trails allowing hikers to also enjoy hiking the disc golf course and trail park.  The Port provides project materials such as the disc baskets, T pads, gravel, bark and portable restrooms.

“Overnight” moorage is available at the Port of Hoodsport’s Marina dock on a first come first served basis, no reservations, fees are $10. p/night and stays are limited to 24 hours at a time. Be sure to check the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website for fishing & harvesting dates, times & warnings. (In 2015 The Washington State Dept of Health closed most of Hood Canal to recreational shellfish (oysters, clams, mussels) harvest.  This was due to the detection of a marine biotoxin, paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) which can be deadly and cannot be removed by cooking. Each and every time you harvest, Everyone needs to check the marine biotoxin hotline at 1-800-562-5632 or go to the website of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife at www.doh.wa.gov/shellfishsafety.htm for more information.)