Boat Landing back in service

FINN ROCK: The Finn Rock Landing, one of the more popular launches for the McKenzie River’s whitewater opportunities, has reopened. The site was developed years ago by the Rosboro Lumber Company and managed for the community in collaboration with the McKenzie River Guides Association.

The site includes 278 acres of adjacent floodplain lands that were acquired by the McKenzie River Trust in 2015. Elizabeth Goward, community engagement manager with the Trust, notes that “Finn Rock Landing has connected thousands of people to the McKenzie. Once you leave the land and slow down to the pace of the river, you gain a renewed appreciation of how incredible this area is.”

Goward added that it is important to be a good caretaker of land and water. “These connections between people and the natural world are critical for ensuring that people continue to care for and invest in the health of our environment,” she said.

The larger Finn Rock Reach area was purchased at auction for $1.55 million using private donations and a low-interest bridge loan. The Trust launched a $4.8 million capital campaign in 2017-18 to pay off the loan, cover habitat restoration costs, and care for the land long term. 400 community members, local businesses, the Eugene Water and Electric Board, the Bonneville Power Administration, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) all contributed.

In 2018, the Trust began work to improve the landing with funding from ODFW The work included ADA parking, lighting, and a vault toilet. River users were also surveyed to help design the improved landing. The design by Cameron McCarthy Landscape Architects was completed by Delta Sand and Gravel Company and included defined parking spaces, pedestrian safety routes, places to gather out of traffic, and bird-friendly lighting.

“The most exciting part of this project is the incorporation of Universal Design principles,” observed Zane Wheeler with the City of Eugene. “Every summer, through our Adaptive Recreation Program, we bring dozens of people who use mobility aids such as wheelchairs to the river to take advantage of our special rafting equipment. Having accessible infrastructure, including ADA parking and ramps, is an important step forward in creating a more equitable outdoor experience.” The Trust plans to replant the area with native trees and shrubs this fall when rain returns.

The landing project, which cost around $850,000, was funded with grants from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department’s Recreational Trails Program, the Lane County Parks bond measure, and private donations.

Access continues to be free of charge, and the McKenzie River Trust says it encourages community members to help in the stewardship of the site. “People and land need each other,” Goward said. “At Finn Rock Reach, we’re relying on people not to leave garbage and to help pick it up when they see it.”

The landing is open year-round from dawn to dusk. To learn more about the project, visit http://www.mckenzieriver.org