After a month of closure, the City of Santa Barbara plans to reopen its boat launch ramp for recreational activities at 4 a.m. Friday.
The ramp closed after other harbors throughout the state shut down their ramps, and Santa Barbara was becoming a destination for boaters up and down the coast.
“Other boat launch ramps are now reopening across the region this week, so we felt comfortable doing so as well,” City Adminstrator Paul Casey said.
The coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic forced a statewide shelter-in-place order and a mandate for people to keep apart by at least 6 feet. Harbors opted to close the boat ramps in an effort to limit gatherings. But Santa Barbara has opted to reopen, with rules for social distancing:
» The harbor will have staggered launch bays to ensure vessels can’t be launched side by side.
» Wash stations will remain closed to ensure adequate social distancing.
» Request that masks be worn while outside of vehicles in the launch area.
» Request that people not congregate while waiting to launch.
» Request that vessels/vehicles be limited to five people or fewer.
“I think it is a step in the right direction for folks to get out and recreate and do it safely and responsibly, and exercise social distancing and what better way than to be out on the water on the boat,” said Erik Engebretson, acting harbor operations manager.
Engebretson said he expects a large crowd, although some might not go out because of the heavy winds expected over the weekend.
“I am glad it is open,” he said. “I hope everyone has a safe day out on the water and be respectful of one another. We really want folks to be patient and not congregate together. If it looks like it might be an issue, we might have to step backward and close it again.”
Mike Wiltshire, the waterfront director, said the harbor is part of the community.
“Many residents and commercial fishermen rely on the launch ramp facilities to fish and recreate,” Wiltshire said. “The recent closure was a tough decision and hit these groups especially hard. Working with our neighboring harbors, we would like to responsibly get these launch ramps open again. My hope is that social distancing guidelines are taken seriously and the facility can be used responsibly. We are absolutely still dealing with a public health emergency brought on by the coronavirus.”
— Noozhawk staff writer Joshua Molina can be reached at jmolina@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.