Fox Island Bridge Boat Launch Repairs

This photo, taken in January 2013, shows the deterioration that has taken place since the image below was taken in March 2007. Read more about the Fox Island Boat Ramp on the

FoxIslandNews Facebook page.

Fox Island's Bridge and Towhead Island Boat Launch

Due to the rapidly deteriorating condition of the Fox Island boat launch (formally known as "Towhead Island"), and the hazardous traffic conditions at the launch on busy summer weekends, Fox Island resident John Ohlson has been holding talks with various government officials over the years, to see if an improvement plan drawn up by the Pierce County Parks & Recreation District in the 1980's can be revived. The property is owned by the Federal Bureau of Land Management, so local and state officials do not have jurisdiction of the property.

A few years ago, we collected signatures on a petition to show support for the proposed improvements, and to date over 650 signatures have been gathered.

If you are interested in helping get the ramp fixed, download a petition, and gather signatures, and Join our email list, to get updates on upcoming meetings and other information. Mail your completed petitions to:
Boat Ramp, PO Box 581, Fox Island, WA 98333

If you are concerned about this problem, the best way to get action is to contact our US Representative and Senators:
Contact US Rep. Emily Randall
Contact Senator Maria Cantwell
Contact Senator Patty Murray

Some History of the Fox Island Bridge

Fox Island Bridge under construction in 1954

Fox Island Bridge when completed in 1954

Fox Island Bridge Toll Booth in 1954

While it was initially believed that the boat ramp was originally built to facilitate construction of the Fox Island Bridge, historic photographs of the bridge during and just after construction show no boat ramp at Fox Island during or after bridge construction (see photos above).

Instead they show the contractor accessed the water from a dock constructed at the northeast corner of the bridge on the mainland side, which is logical since a deeper water dock would accommodate larger watercraft and because any construction workers and bridge materials would arrive from the mainland side before the bridge was constructed. Additionally, the BLM parcel was used as a bridge toll booth for many years after completion of the bridge, and a photo of that toll booth in 1954 around the time of the bridge completion shows no boat ramp in that area.

Research and coordination revealed that Pierce County secured a 25-year lease with BLM between 1972 and 1997 for $10 per year under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act of 1926 (Case File WAOR6993) which stipulated that the public lands be used for recreational or public purposes. While no documentation or photography has been identified to confirm this, it is reasonable to conclude that the boat ramp, in its current form, was built by Pierce County Parks and Recreation Department shortly after the 1972 lease was secured.

In 1987 the Pierce County Parks and Recreation Department developed a Boat Ramp Master plan which appears to show an expanded boat ramp facility compared to what exists today; however, these improvements were never made. The lease with BLM expired in 1997, and in 2000 Pierce County verbally notified BLM that they did not intend to renew the lease. There is no current lease agreement between Pierce County and BLM and the old lease agreement could not be found in any agency’s files (although a federal records search is still underway at the BLM).

When PenMet Parks was created in 2004, Pierce County Parks and Recreation gave PenMet Parks control over parks on the peninsula side of the county.

In 2007 the FICRA boat ramp committee attempted to revive the boat ramp master plan with support from PenMet Parks, but the effort ultimately failed for a variety of reasons. PenMet Parks has subsequently confirmed as part of this evaluation that the Fox Island boat ramp is not on their current property list and they have no plans now or in the future to lease or maintain the boat ramp area.

The BLM has confirmed that the boat ramp is not in the BLM inventory, is not maintained, and is not considered an official recreational facility. And finally, the County has no current plans to reacquire/reconstruct the boat ramp.

Information provided by Pierce County and reported by: Brian Bombardier, PE; HDR Engineering, Inc.

Fox Island Boat Ramp 2007

Fox Island Boat Ramp 2013

The image from 2007 on the left, shows the amount of erosion that has taken place vs. the one on the right from 2013, as the waves slowly eat away the parking lot area.

Comparison view of the Fox Island Boat Ramp

In this comparison view looking North, you can see the remnants of the original retaining wall boulders, located well past the shoreline in the year 2000, vs. where it is in 2013.

Damaged by heavy equipment and frequent use by commercial fishermen and geoduck farmers, the concrete ramp approach is badly cracked.

The second row of boulders on the left was the original location of the parking lot's westerly edge.

The small turnaround area is close to the oncoming traffic on the Fox Island Bridge road, making a traffic hazard for boaters and Island residents alike.

The concrete slabs that make up the ramp itself are beyond repair.

These images are from 2007, showing the gradual deterioration of the ramp area. Erosion and tidal action has washed away the boat launch's parking area over the years.

The angle of the ramp itself would be increased under the new plan, to prevent having to submerge your vehicle in the saltwater to get your boat off the trailer, and the concrete slabs would be replaced with a smooth, continuous concrete drive.

History of the Fox Island Boat Ramp

The land was originally the site for the toll booth for the Fox Island bridge, and the original ramp was constructed in the 1970's by Pierce County. Some years later, the original ramp was destroyed by some heavy equipment.

It was later replaced by the current concrete slabs which are chained together to form the boat ramp. The slabs are breaking apart, have become disconnected from one another, and pose a hazard to boaters. Most people avoid the actual ramp, and launch their boats on the adjacent gravel beach.

Time and the tides have taken their toll, and the once spacious parking area is now only a fraction of it's former self. Erosion has washed away nearly all of the parking area, and the pavement on the ramp is crumbling badly.

1980's Boat Ramp Master Plan

A boat ramp replacement plan, developed by Pierce County in the 1980's would increase the on-site parking from approximately 8 stalls to nearly 21 stalls, and provide an off-street staging area for boaters to turn around and position their rigs to launch - out of the oncoming traffic. Incoming traffic would be routed to the north end of the lot, and exiting traffic would use the south exit, providing a smoother flow of traffic on the site.

An option to add a small picnic area on the south end of the property was also being looked at.

In 2007, Fox Island resident John Ohlson had been in communication with Senator Maria Cantwell’s office, US Rep. Derek Kilmer, Rep. Pat Lantz, Pierce County Councilman Terry Lee, and PenMet Parks regarding this project. There had been interest by all parties concerned, to get the project back on track.

2013: Efforts are under way to restart this project, and potentially strike up a partnership between PenMet and the BLM to provide stewardship and ongoing operational support for this facility.

If you are interested in helping get the ramp fixed, download a petition, and gather signatures, and Join our email list, to get updates on upcoming meetings and other information. Mail your completed petitions to:
Boat Ramp
PO Box 581
Fox Island, WA 98333

Moving day in 2003 for a Tanglewood Island resident meant driving their U-Haul truck down the boat ramp, to load it onto the waiting landing craft.

A detailed diagram of the 1980's proposed boat ramp improvement plan is seen here. Click to enlarge plans

Read more about the Fox Island Boat Ramp on the FoxIslandNews Facebook page.