The town of Russell and the National Park Service are exploring options to renovate Little Sand Bay Marina. The work addresses existing structural issues with in the harbor and expands the facility to offer more boating and park options for the public.
The existing harbor allows sand and sediment to enter, creating the need for more frequent dredging operations at significant cost. There is also insufficient capacity for recreational boaters to moor seasonally or as transients, and the existing harbor requires expansion and greater protection from waves to more effectively provide a harbor of refuge during storms. This is particularly important since there are no other harbors of refuge between Bayfield and Cornucopia.
The NPS will incorporate steel sheet pile to the exterior of their existing crib structures to reduce transmission of sand through the existing cribs. An extension parallel to shore from the end of the outermost point of the NPS breakwater will provide an overlapping entry to protect the harbor from waves out of the north and northeast. The existing town breakwater structures forming the east side of the harbor will be removed in a successive phase, and a new breakwater constructed along the eastern property line will nearly double the size of the harbor.
The new breakwater on the east side of the harbor will be designed to prevent sand from moving through the structure, while also maintaining the harbor entry far enough off shore to reduce the need for dredging to maintain navigable depths.
Within the harbor, the boat launch is proposed to be reconfigured to a two-lane launch, coupled with a dedicated barge landing well for the NPS to more easily load and unload their work barges.
The new boat launch will include a movable skid pier to facilitate boat launching. Additionally, a new transient pier of approximately 180 feet in length will allow flexible broadside mooring to support nearly any size recreational vessel seeking transient mooring or shelter from storms.
Approximately 54 new 30 feet-40 feet slips provided on a mix of fixed and floating docks will greatly increase the potential for seasonal and transient mooring.
A new boater services building with marina staff facilities, restrooms, showers and a small food operation is proposed adjacent to the expanded boat launch. Proposed shoreside amenities include a new promenade, event lawn, and play area adjacent to the marina.
Additional parking to support the increased number of slips is proposed on town property along the entry drive is also proposed.
Information provided by the town of Russell.
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