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Local fishers and residents urge Delta County to add Sac Bay water access to five-year recreation plan
Summary
At a public hearing on Delta County's five-year recreation plan, local fishing groups and residents urged the board to improve public boat launches and consider a marina at Sac Bay and other Garden Peninsula sites; Parks manager said the plan had strong public participation and staff will pursue changes.
Delta County residents and representatives of local fishing associations filled the service center during a public hearing on the county's five-year recreation plan, pressing the Board of Commissioners to prioritize public water access on the Garden Peninsula, particularly at Sac Bay.
"We need better access," said Jeff Alepski, president of the Fairport Sport Fishing Association, who described existing launches as "rough landings" that do not accommodate larger boats and lack parking and safe return harbors. Dylan Holzenkamp, vice president of the association, urged that Sac Bay receive priority in the development plan because it provides natural protection and could support a marina that would serve summer traffic.
Other speakers told the board the draft recreation plan contains factual and process problems: some commenters challenged a survey statistic cited in the plan that reported "195 people a day" using the county forest, calling it misleading and asking for corrections to acreage figures and stakeholder outreach lists. Parks manager Heather Leduc responded that the parks planning process had strong public engagement (she said the county's plan drew the highest response of any in the region) and that staff had already started work to address issues raised in comments.
Several residents urged inclusion of public-launch upgrades, improved parking for rigs, and clearer protections against private-access closures. Board members and administrative staff said the meeting transcript and public input would be forwarded to the Parks and Recreation Commission for its upcoming meeting and that public comment remains welcome through the PRC process.
