Oak Harbor says marina repairs stalled as North F dock awaits permits

Oak Harbor officials told marina tenants that repairs to the North F dock remain on hold because crucial permits have not yet arrived, slowing both immediate repairs and a planned dredging project. Harbormaster Alyce Henry spoke at a Jan. 16 meeting and followed up by email about the permit status.

Henry said the city is awaiting a Salish Sea Nearshore Programmatic Permit, which requires ecological impacts of Puget Sound nearshore projects to be offset, and that the permit “could possibly be in hand by next week.” She also noted that a permit from the National Marine Fisheries Service, or NOAA Fisheries, which the city submitted for in June, is holding up progress on the dredging work. The damage forcing the delay followed a windstorm in December, with the North F dock having “sustained the brunt of the damage.”

Oak Harbor’s planned dredging aims to restore navigability where shoaling has reduced depths. The city website describes the effort as intended to “restore the ability to navigate in the water where depths are reduced to sedimentation.” City documents cited at the meeting note that several areas were missed during the last dredging in 2011, and Henry wrote that there have been no updates on the marina dredging project since December.

The immediate effect for residents is uncertainty about access and timing. Marina tenants were briefed but left without firm repair dates; boat owners and commercial operators face a period of waiting that could affect launch plans and local marine activity. Until permitting is resolved, the city cannot move forward with work that would reestablish deeper channels and repair dock structures damaged by the storm.

By contrast, the city of Dunedin in Florida is publicly further along in a separate, hurricane-driven marina restoration. Dunedin has completed installation of new shore power pedestals in July 2025, awarded a seawall repair bid to BDI Marine at its July 17, 2025 Commission Meeting, and began north seawall construction on Oct. 13, 2025. That program includes detailed budgets - for example, a $3,500,000 bulkhead project with $2,625,000 from FEMA, a $5,000,000 docks A and B project with $3,750,000 from FEMA, and a $2,300,000 fishing pier project with $1,725,000 from FEMA - and an expected construction completion in spring 2026. Dunedin City Manager Jennifer Bramley wrote, “We are actively working on the design and construction of the large-scale repairs, as well as procuring the labor and parts needed. We will continue to provide updates on our website, and we appreciate your patience as we work diligently to restore and rebuild our beautiful Marina.” The Dunedin site also notes, “Progress depends on contractor availability and timelines. Thank you for your continued patience and support, stay tuned for updates and future input opportunities,” and that “City staff continues to meet all regulatory requirements and pursue FEMA reimbursement.” The Dunedin harbor master can be reached at laurie.ferguson@dunedin.gov for further information.

Permitting regimes and funding streams are central to the differing paces. Oak Harbor residents will want clear timelines from city officials on when the Salish Sea permit and the NOAA Fisheries authorization arrive and what contractors and budgets will be employed once permits are in hand. Boaters and marina tenants should monitor official Oak Harbor channels for advisories and updates, since permit decisions will determine when repairs and dredging can actually begin and when safe navigation will be restored.