The only public boat launch in Discovery Bay will get a compete renovation if the Port of Port Townsend is successful in getting a state grant to pay for much of the work.

Port commissioners unanimously agreed at their meeting last Wednesday to allow staff to apply for a $600,000 grant from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office’s Boating Facilities Program.

The Gardiner Boat Launch improvement project is estimated to cost $750,000, according to a preliminary estimate by the Port.

If the Port can secure the grant, the state would pay for 80 percent of the project. The Port would have to match 20 percent of the cost, or roughly $150,000.

Port officials said revamping the ramp is critical for keeping public access in place at Discovery Bay.

But while commissioners were supportive of improvements at Discovery Bay, they sank a companion request for boat launch renovations at Mats Mats.

Port staff had suggested seeking two grants; one for the Gardiner Boat Launch and another for the Mats Mats Boat Launch.

Grant funding at Mats Mats would be used to replace the existing float with an access-for-all float, as well as ramp repairs and improvements to the parking area. 

While a cost estimate for the Mats Mats work was not finished, staff noted that boating facilities grants were capped at $1 million, and a
25 percent local match from the Port was needed. Reid Middleton, the Port’s design engineer, had been working with officials to make sure the Port’s match would not exceed $400,000.

Port commissioners instead split the proposed grant request in two.

Port Commissioner Pete Hanke said getting a grant for Mats Mats would mean the Port would have to come up with matching money.

His preference, he said, was to focus a grant application solely on the Gardiner Boat Launch.

Port Commissioner Bill Putney said he wasn’t in favor of a phased approach at Mats Mats; doing near-term work to replace the existing float, with an elevated ramp facility for larger trailer-boats to come later.

“I’m torn because I think there’s a need for more trailer-boat access in this county than we currently have,” Putney said.

Such put-in locations are limited to Mats Mats, Quilcene and Port Hadlock.

“And that’s it,” he added.

A better approach was to tackle upgrades at a single facility, and do it well, rather than stretching out two projects over a number of years.

“Entropy is going to catch up to us on all these things,” Putney warned.

Port Commissioner Pam Petranek said there were already limitations at Mats Mats.

“It’s not really possible to make it more accessible to a lot of people because of the parking. We’re completely limited there,” Petranek said.

The deadline for grant applications to the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office is Nov. 1.

According to Port staff, technical reviews follow and wrap up Jan. 14. Projects are then reviewed in February and priority ranking follows in April.

Grant awards are expected to be announced in June.