Bay Area Boaters Unite To Push for Ayala Cove Dock Repair and Upgrade
As we start thinking about the end of winter and the coming spring and summer seasons, we also make a mental note of nearby places we’d like to spend a night or two on our boats. Ayala Cove is always on the list. But we were reminded of the state of the Cove’s docks when we received an email from our friend Cyril Kollock. Cyril told us of a petition that has been created to collect signatures in support of repairing and upgrading the docks.
The petition reads as follows:
This petition is in regards to the current state of the docks at Ayala Cove, Angel Island CA.
As a popular recreational area for boaters and visitors, the docks are in considerable disrepair and hazardous.
It is also [a] popular spot for sea lions which may also potentially leading (sic) to increased damage. Perhaps deterrent measures could be investigated.
Ayala Cove is a beautiful geographic location with frequent use, we request plans and action to repair and upgrade the facilities for functionality and boating safety.
A post on the SF Bay Area Sailing Facebook page by Paul Hollenbach on February 11 alerts sailors to the problem.
Comments on Hollenbach’s post include, “Was just dropping passengers there yesterday, pilings fallen over, dock separated (as this post mentions), and they put up an electric sign telling you not to tie to the outer fingers. DEPLORABLE!!!
” — Allyn Schafer/Kimberly Ayers.
According to the Angel Island Conservancy website, Ayala Cove has the largest public docks and moorings on the Bay. Why, then, are they in such a bad state?
We contacted local sailor Jim Haussener about the issue. Jim replied, “I’ve talked to the Director of Parks and Recreation about this twice. He has told me that they have money budgeted for it. However, when asked about dredging he put that off onto State Lands. Those that are interested, I would encourage to attend the California Boating Congress in Sacramento, March 12 and 13.”
The Boating Congress Jim refers to is an annual meeting of industry groups to hear from statewide leaders, policymakers, legislators and interested parties, and will be attended by state legislators and leaders from the California Department of Parks and the Division of Boating and Waterways. The meeting’s purpose is to “impact state legislators and regulators on issues facing marinas, boating, waterways, and recreation.”
While researching this story we found a notice from 2022, issued by the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation that reads:
PROJECT TITLE: Ayala Cove Boat Dock Replacement-Geotechnical Investigation
LOCATION: Angel Island SP COUNTY: Marin
DESCRIPTION OF THE NATURE AND PURPOSE OF PROJECT: Perform up to 3 exploratory borings within the proposed pier alignment using a barge-mounted drill rig equipped with mud rotary and rock coring drilling techniques. The borings will penetrate at least 15 feet into Franciscan bedrock. Boring depths are expected to be approximately 25-40 feet below the cove bottom and within 500 feet of shore. Drill fluids will be containerized and disposed of off-site. Upon completion, borings will be backfilled with neat cement grout in accordance with MCDEHS permit requirements. The geotechnical work will occur during a construction window of June 15 to October 15, in accordance with USACOE’s NWP 6 requirements. Native American and archeological monitoring will occur during the boring process and includes appropriate BMPs necessary to prevent spoils and drilling fluids from entering the bay.
That suggests to us that the docks have been identified as being in need of repair. But nothing has happened. Perhaps people-power can make this happen.
If you’d like to add your name to the petition, you can do so here: Ayala Cove Dock Restoration Petition.
If you want to attend the California Boating Congress in Sacramento on March 12 and 13, you can register here.
Out of interest, here’s a little snippet of Ayala Cove’s history. “In August of 1775, Lt. Juan Manuel de Ayala, a Spanish Naval officer, sailed the ship the San Carlos into San Francisco Bay and anchored into what is now know as Ayala Cove. The first Europeans to sail into the San Francisco Bay, Ayala and his crew spent forty days making a chart of the area. Following a practice then common among Catholic explorers naming sites for the religious feast days nearest to the time of discovery, Father Vicente, the chaplain of the San Carlos, christened the little island Isla de Los Angeles.”
This is nonsense! The rangers at the park have been talking about repairs for over 2 years at least. My very strong POV is that the State of CA has no business operating this park (It is the only one of 423 state parks that is an island). Given the proximity of GGNRA, the park should be ceded to the Feds, now. It is obvious the state can’t take care of it!
By the way, I’ve written to you more times than I can recall asking you to support a movement to get these repairs going, particularly the dredging of the mooring field. For the record, I’ve noted previously that the problem of the silting mound in the center of the field is due to the manner that the big GGB ferries maneuver in and out. Their powerful props blow silt into the center of the cove.
Capt. Kanusee, interesting you would “for the record” blame the big GGB ferries for something that has been slowly happening for at least 50 years (that I am personally aware of) when they have only recently (little over a year now) taken over the San Francisco to Angel Island ferry service. It is actually the dynamic of the ebb current that runs through the cove, that deposits silt towards the center. During a large ebb current moving through Raccoon Strait, Pt Ione catches a large stream of that current, directs it into the cove, and sets up a swift counterclockwise flow along the outside shore of Ayala Cove. This swift current keeps the edges of the mooring field deeper, but the slower moving water towards the center allows the silt to settle out there. I understand the cove was last dredged in the early 70’s, yes it needs it again!
By the way, asking boaters to trek to Sacramento is also nonsense. We are a “representative” government. Write to your assembly member and demand to be heard!
Supporting this project ❗️