Brentwood, CA — On Sunday, February 4, winter storm conditions caused a dock to unmoor from Anchor Marina, a privately owned property on Bethel Island with a 15-year history of dangerous conditions.
The 300-foot dock floated into Taylor Slough, and then split into two segments that were each over 100 feet long. One section of dock ran aground at Jersey Island. A second section collided with at least one neighboring dock.
The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office and the Contra Costa Department of Conservation and Development are working to remove the sections of dock from the waterways. The County has identified a local contractor to dismantle the dock and dispose of the material, and the contractor is currently arranging for equipment to be brought to the site.
“It’s frustrating that a delinquent property owner with a history of mismanagement has caused further damage through unsafe conditions,” said Diane Burgis, Contra Costa County Supervisor representing District 3. “At the same time, this could have been worse without the County’s cleanup of the site last year, when fuels, chemicals and other pollutants were removed. Without the County’s work, those pollutants could have made their way into the Delta.”
In July 2023, Contra Costa County abated the property at 1970 Taylor Road citing:
“1) Operation of an RV park, boat and boat trailer storage, RV and trailer parking with hook-ups, campgrounds, mini storage, convenience store, U-Haul rental business, and a boat repair facility without a land use permit;
2) Illegally occupied boats and RV’s lacking proper sanitation and utilizing unpermitted electrical systems consisting of generators and extension cords, cumulating in fire damage, insanitary/hazardous conditions unsafe for human habitation; and
3) a residential property nuisance including trash and debris, car parts, tires, and construction equipment.”
During the July 2023 abatement, 24 truckloads of trash and debris were extracted, totaling 44 tons. The property owner, BI Properties, was billed $100,858 for the actual cost of the abatement and all administrative costs in November 2023 and has not paid. Unrelated to this weekend’s storm damage, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously today to place a lien on the property for $100,858. The County plans to bill the property owner for any new costs for abating the newest hazard created by the dock.
Related
- Feb 6 – Anchor Marina Abatement on Bethel Island Costs $100k
- Feb 4 – Contra Costa County Fire Say Winter Storm Damaged 7 Structures
