As the winter paddling season in the Pacific Northwest starts to get underway many eagerly await the opportunities to get out on Canyon Creek in the Lewis River drainage. Local volunteers worked to save this creek from hydropower development in the 1990s and many know it as one of the gems for creek boating in the greater Portland metro area. Unfortunately access to the take-out is currently closed due to vandalism this past summer.

The standard run on Canyon Creek ends on Merwin Reservoir with boaters paddling a little over a mile out to the access at the Highway 503 bridge. This access point was improved with a set of stairs that was installed as a recreational mitigation measure for the Lewis River Hydroelectric Project and included in the Recreation Resource Management Plan.

This past summer the site was heavily vandalized when individuals rolled boulders (used to delineate parking) down the stairs, severely damaging the stair treads and rendering them unsafe for public use. Unfortunately this is not the first time this has happened. In response PacifiCorp closed the site as they work on a project plan and implement repairs which are currently underway.

The first phase of the project includes removal of all boulders from the site, placement of jersey barriers and a guardrail extension to delineate parking, and replacement of all damaged stair treads and railings. In the interim jersey barriers have been placed to keep vehicles out of the area as PacifiCorp works to remove all parking delineation boulders. They will next replace the stair treads and install the guardrail extension. The 28 stair treads and piece of handrail needing replacement are currently being custom fabricated with installation planned for mid November. Once this is complete PacifiCorp intends to open the site for public use. It is our hope that the public will be able to use and enjoy this site in time for the Thanksgiving holiday when many are out enjoying our local rivers.

While boaters are capable of climbing the cliff and roping up boats, as they did before the stairs were installed, PacifiCorp has requested that the boating community refrain from using the site until repairs are completed. PacifiCorp is also aware that some individuals have moved the temporary parking barriers and removed closure signs. They have warned that vehicles found in the area during the closure may be towed. Given the frequency and severity of site vandalism, PacifiCorp is also considering establishing the access as a fee site so they can employ a site host on the weekends and holidays.

We have expressed to PacifiCorp the importance of maintaining public access to this site, particularly for the whitewater community, during the winter months when Canyon Creek is flowing. A seasonal winter closure, as implemented at some of PacifiCorp's other recreation sites, would be problematic here. We expect PacifiCorp to post their proposed future management plans and any amendments to the Recreation Resource Management Plan on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission website (under docket P-935), where the public will have the opportunity to comment.