Many of you have been asking for a dredging update. We now have something
to report.
We have had four meetings now. The first meeting was to analyze the scope
of work. This was a discouraging meeting as we do not know if there is
enough funds to do all the work that needs to be done considering the lousy
winter precipitation we had.
The second meeting was with the Army Corp of Engineers. That was a much
more positive meeting. The original plan was to put the spoils on-site in
the pond behind all the sailboats in the parking lot. But that would
require a permit from the Corp. The permitting and approval process could
take 4 to 12 months before digging could begin. But if we can find a
location that is not wetlands we would not necessarily need a permit and
could begin work as soon as design engineering was done and a contract was
awarded a successful dredging bidder. So we quickly switched focus on where
we may be able to deposit spoils with permitting. If spoils are hauled off
by truck that will eat up a great deal of the allocated money for dredging
and would limit funds for actual dredging work. If we can find a location
close enough to pump the materials to then cost of removing the spoils from
the marina would dramatically drop leaving more money for actual digging.
The third meeting we visited potential sites for spoils deposits. We
thought we had a great site until we were told by the engineers that our
containment wall would have to be 60 feet high. Se we started looking for
several sites to dump spoils. We think we have found some good sites now
and are discussing these options with the land owners. The land owners are
keeping an open mind about it but want to see testing results of the spoils
first.
Today we had an excavator out here digging near the ramp to see how far we
could go down without hitting hardpan. We were able to go 7 feet down (from
lake level) and were just starting to get resistance. This is good news as
this was below the original 4188' level that the marina was originally
dredged to. We also took samples for testing and should have results next
week. And we were able to clean up the ramp a bit.
Design work continues as well as locating and solidifying sites to dump the
spoils. I am guessing that the earliest any digging would happen would be
early January. This takes into consideration working through details of
spoils sites, design engineering completion, putting dredging contract out
to bid, awarding contract, and mobilization. But the project is now moving
at a much faster pace.
No final decision has been made but right now we are all leading towards
suction dredging rather than excavation. This probably means that a coffer
dam will not be necessary. We are also leaning on dredging the new channel
first as this is the biggest unknown of the project.
This is all I have for you right now. I wish I had more details but I
probably won't know a great deal of details until the scope of work is
completed in the design engineering process.
Thanks
Dave
Dave Shearer
Harbor Master
Great Salt Lake State Marina
Antelope Island State Marina
801-209-9142
