Unsafe boat launch site at Harpers Bridge

Discussion of a boat launch near Sunriver is on the agenda for the Deschutes County Commission’s meeting.

Located along Spring River Road where Harper Bridge crosses the Deschutes River, the boat launch has been brought to the attention of commissioners by area residents who say the site has become unsafe due to heavy usage, increased traffic and lack of parking. A launch suitable for larger boats carried on trailers is on the south side of the bridge, while a more primitive launch for kayaks and rafts is on the north side. There are no dedicated parking areas nearby.

County staff have been looking into whether the developers, Crosswater Limited Partnership, met their obligation to provide a public boat launch as outlined when the county approved the development of the golf resort in the early 1990s.

Initial research by the county’s Community Development Department suggests the developers are in compliance, and that abundant wetlands and the location of a nearby tee box could limit the expansion of the launch site.

The Sunriver Homeowners Association has looked into the possibility of expanding the primitive launch site on the north side of the bridge, but the idea was abandoned due to liability concerns and the objections of neighbors. County staff report that it is uncertain if the proposal could be resurrected.