Dear Interested Party:

The National Park Service (NPS) is preparing an environmental assessment (EA) that will examine alternatives for the repair, replacement, or rehabilitation of the pier at Bechers Bay on the north side of Santa Rosa Island, Channel Islands National Park, approximately 45 miles west of Ventura in Santa Barbara County, California. The purpose of this project is to provide a structurally sound pier at Santa Rosa Island in a manner that provides safe and dry access to the island for park visitors and staff, that is compatible with the character of the historic ranching district, that protects the area’s natural resources, and that best serves park operations.

Currently, the pier is the only viable access (by mobile crane) for supplies and materials to support all park operations, resource management and protection, and maintenance activities. It also provides visitor access to the island via concessionaire boat operators and special use permit operators for this 54,000 acre island. The pier provides for approximately 700 vessel landings per year.

The existing pier was repaired and rebuilt in 1987, shortly after the NPS acquired Santa Rosa Island, to make it safe for park operations and to provide access to the island for visitors, researchers, and NPS employees. The 1987 reconstruction was temporary in nature and not intended to last for more than 20 years. Since the 1987 reconstruction work, the pier has suffered heavy corrosion from the marine environment and deterioration from storms, vehicle operation, and overall use. Emergency repairs were conducted in 2002, 2004 and 2006 due to piling deterioration and collapse.

The current pier is approximately 574-feet long, 20-feet wide for its length, and 40-feet wide at the end. It has a wood deck made up of 3x 12-inch timbers and is built on both wood and steel pilings. The wood pilings are approximately 12 inches in diameter and covered in creosote to inhibit rotting. These pilings run from the cliff face to the surf zone. The steel pilings are 5- inches in diameter, extend out into the ocean for the remaining length, and are not protected from the elements. The pier sits 16-feet above the Mean Lower Low Water mark (MLLW) and, while rare, has in the past experienced wave damage.

We welcome your input on any issues and concerns that you may have regarding this project. Please provide any comments or information within 15 days of the posting of this notice. Please post your comments electronically at http://parkplanning.nps.gov. You may also send responses to:

Superintendent
Channel Islands National Park
1901 Spinnaker Drive
Ventura, California 93001

Your participation in the scoping process for this project is important to us and we look forward to hearing from you.