Statter Harbor improvements that began 20 years ago near completion

More dock space, parking, plaza, and other facilities for tourists and locals expected to be completed before winter

Phil Hester (far right) of Dawson Construction finishes concrete for harbor sidewalks on Sept. 29, 2025. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Independent)

By Laurie Craig

Juneau Independent

Twenty years of improvements to Auke Bay’s Statter Harbor will wrap up by the end of October, with the exception of springtime landscaping, according to CBJ Port Engineer Matthew Sill. 

Sill, watching concrete being poured into forms for sidewalks on Tuesday, Sept. 30, said the final elements of the lengthy project will add more dock space, reduce congestion at the busy harbor, and adapt to the increasing needs of tourism and local boaters.

The city and contractors plan to complete asphalt paving for tour bus parking, add railings, and finish constructing a plaza before freezing weather arrives.

An updated City and Borough of Juneau master plan design reveals 20 years of Statter Harbor improvements (Courtesy of CBJ Port Engineer Matthew Sill)

Several phases of the initial designs have been completed to separate different user groups. When the original 2005 master plan was created, kayakers, fishing boats, freight vessels and other users competed for dock space. The completion of the launch ramp for fishing boats as part of phase two made the task of launching a boat, and parking the owner’s truck and boat trailer, much easier. Several boat trailer spaces now occupy paved lanes. 

“Deconflicting user groups has dramatically improved the user experience compared to two decades ago,” Sill wrote in a follow-up email.

“The whale watching fleet exploded in number in the last 20 years which resulted in the need to build a larger float to serve that fleet,” Sill wrote. That demand required adaptation of the original master plan which also provided restrooms, a covered waiting area and tour bus parking. During the off-season, the family restroom will remain heated and accessible for public use. The same is true of tour floats; they will be available for local boaters as most whale watching fleets remove their vessels during winter.

“When we’re building a project with tourism dollars we always try to include amenities for the locals, if that’s possible,” he said.

A panoramic image reveals the extensive improvements to Statter Harbor over 20 years. Visitor facilities add to existing boat launch ramps and trailer parking in the right distance. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Independent)

Funding for the Statter Harbor improvements have largely come from revenue that is generated by moorage fees. Sill explained the sources of money for construction.

Funding for Statter Harbor Improvements comes from a mix of sources including grants, marine passenger fees, 1% sales tax initiative, and revenue generated by moorage fees at the port and harbors, according to Sill. He noted "the two largest sources of funds for the phase III portion of the work are Docks Revenue (from cruise ships) and marine passenger fees."

“Additionally, I mentioned that Docks and Harbors operates as two separate enterprise funds, which mean that we fund our projects using funds that we generate ourselves rather than funding projects using CBJ general funds. The two exceptions to that are projects funded through the 1% sales tax initiative and projects funded by marine passenger fees,” Sill wrote.

“In the case of the 1% sales tax initiatives, we receive funding only when the assembly and voters approve of our projects. In the case of the marine passenger fee funded projects, we submit our projects to the manager’s office who compiles a list that is approved by the assembly,” he clarified. “In the case of the construction project at Statter right now, it is being paid for by Dock Funds which consist of revenue generated by fees levied on cruise ships.”

A waterfront view of tour boats, the passenger access ramp and upland restroom structure show harbor improvements as construction nears final stages on Oct. 7, 2025. Asphalt parking pavement, handrails and other details remain with completion estimated for the end of October. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Independent)

The multi-phase project required U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permits to dredge and fill the harbor. 

“The material (under the parking lots) is pretty soft, so if we started building on it, it would all just start sinking,” Sill noted. 

“We had to bring in fill and let it sit for a year and just let everything settle and compress, and then we could build on it,” he explained.

Sill praised the many users of the harbor for their cooperation and patience, as buses and visitors shared areas with construction equipment and contractors. 

Outdoor seating and plantings adjacent to the existing boat launch ramp invite people to watch harbor activities, eagles, seals and sea lions, salmon and herring, and occasional humpback whales. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Independent)

During busy summer tour operations, temporary fencing and flagging established corridors for visitors to easily walk from tour buses to dock facilities. Communication among companies and city employees reduced possible conflicts and have allowed for a speedier completion date than first envisioned, said Sill.

The final element of landscaping for the plaza will be added in spring of 2026 as weather permits. A dedication of the facilities will be scheduled at about that time.

• Contact Laurie Craig at lauriec@juneauindependent.com.

Wendy and Daniel Glidman launch their boat on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, for a short trip to restock firewood and winterize their remote cabin. On board, cats Rocco and Otis endure the ride in their cat carriers or padded organic blueberry boxes if the water is calm. Glidman drove his truck and boat trailer up the launch ramp for convenient parking in the improved area while Wendy held the boat’s lines on the floating dock. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Independent)