Depoe Bay is the world’s smallest natural navigable harbor, covering approximately 6 acres with a 50 foot wide, 100 foot long, rockbound, dog-legged channel connecting to the Pacific Ocean. There are two freshwater creeks that flow into the harbor; North Depoe Creek enters at the northeasterly corner and South Depoe Creek enters at the southeasterly corner. These creeks are very different in character. North Depoe Creek is rocky-bottomed and fairly fast flowing while South Depoe Creek is sandy-bottomed and slow moving. Originally, the inner bay was shallow with a beach area on the east side surrounded by cedar forest. Boats would anchor in the bay, afloat during high tide and resting on bottom during low tide.
In 1937 the 75th Congress authorized development construction of the inner bay. At its completion in 1939, the harbor was 375 feet long by 125 feet wide by 5 feet deep. The next major modifications to the harbor were completed by 1952. These modifications included enlarging the harbor to 750 feet long by 390 feet wide by 8 feet deep and building the retaining seawall along the east side. The harbor was drained, the channel dammed, the creek water flows were directed to the ocean through wooden flues during this construction.
By 1966 the channel was enhanced by the construction of two concrete breakwaters at the north side of the entrance and the channel depth was increased to 8 feet.
While the harbor was included in the Port of Newport District for a number of years, in 1975 the Port of Newport relinquished the harbor to the City. Since the harbor has always been, and remains, the heart of our community this was an important change for Depoe Bay. The Coast Guard’s continued presence ensures that our commercial, charter and sport fishermen can operate with safety and protection.