PORT TOWNSEND — Port of Port Townsend infrastructure is receiving a boost of more than $3.5 million from the state Legislature for several repair projects.
The funding will assist with the repairs to the damaged Point Hudson jetties as well as improvements of the stormwater system that collects pollutants at Boat Haven and the port-run public boat launch in Gardiner.
The state Legislature’s recently approved budget allotted $1 million for the rebuild of the north and south jetties, $2.05 million for the stormwater system improvements and $540,000 for the port’s Gardiner boat launch, according to a press release from the port.
Port Executive Director Eron Berg thanked the Legislative District 24 delegation — Reps. Steve Tharinger of Port Townsend and Mike Chapman of Port Angeles, and Sen. Kevin Van De Wege of Sequim — for “their tenacity and support of Port priorities and projects,” in a press release.
“It’s a huge wind in our sails, and our legislative team just did an awesome job in supporting not just the port but their whole district this session,” Berg said.
The total replacement cost of jetties that protect Point Hudson is estimated at $15 million. About half that money is expected to come from outside sources.
The $1 million state grant is an important milestone to assist with the rebuild, Berg said.
“It will help make this project a reality,” he said.
The port is now working through a complicated permitting process for the jetties, requiring permits from the Army Corps of Engineers and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and other entities as part of a process for a federal Economic Development Administration grant, Berg said.
If approved by the EDA, the grant would be about $7 million, Berg said in a phone interview Wednesday.
Funds from the Industrial Development District (IDD) levy would cover the remainder of the cost, he said.
The Point Hudson jetties were damaged during December 2018 windstorms. The port needs to demolish and replace both arms of the breakwater, officials have said. Deterioration of the breakwaters can allow winter storms to blow through the marina.
The Boat Haven stormwater system, which is monitored by the state Department of Ecology, is essential to allowing the marine trades at the Boat Haven to continue their work on boats, Berg said.
The system captures and filters out pollutants before they enter Port Townsend Bay.
The $2.05 million “will be used to upgrade the boatyard stormwater system to better clean water and meet the requirements of the Port’s discharge permit,” Berg said.
The overall cost of the stormwater project is still being calculated, with estimations up to $2.6 million. The port may use IDD funds to cover the remainder if commissioners approve it, Berg said.
The hope is that work on the project can begin this summer.
The overall cost to rebuild of the Gardiner Boat Ramp is $674,857. Berg considers the project to be fully funded between the state funds and IDD funds.
The hope is that work can begin in 2022, depending on permitting, he said.
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Jefferson County reporter Zach Jablonski can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 5, or at zjablonski@peninsuladailynews.com.
