If you don't want to read a long email this is your chance to delete right
now.
Since I have been averaging about 5 requests a day for updates on dredging
and lake level forecasts I thought I would send out this email.
DREDGING.
Although the average visit to the marina would not see any dredging
activity, the process is going well. The firm hired to do the design work
for dredging (obtaining permissions and permits, design work, bidding
package, construction testing), is about 90% done with their work. We have
identified a few areas that we can pump the spoils to. This is critical
since hauling spoils offsite is very expensive and would cut into the budget
for actual dredging work. Pumping the spoils offsite is much more
economical. A meeting has been set up with Army Corp for approval of the
spoils site.
Once design work is complete and we have sign-off with Army Corp. DFCM will
complete the bidding package. At this time it is expected the request for
bids will go out early January. At that point bidders will have two weeks
to submit bids. Bids will be evaluated and the successful bid will be
awarded at which time contracts will be signed. Then the successful bidder
can begin mobilization and then dredging can begin. Mobilization time for
the successful bidder is an unknown but it is anticipated that dredging will
begin sometime this winter. We are almost there.
We will have one more dredging meeting before the Bottom-of-the-Pit party so
I hope to have some good news to share with you at that time.
Now as I stated in earlier emails and meetings, the water level situation
has changed since PARKS began looking at how much dredging would need to be
done. We had an incredibly bad winter last year bringing lake levels so low
it necessitated pulling almost all boats from the marina. Last spring we
anticipated having to pull ALL the boats from the marina and figure out how
we were going to access the lake for Search & Rescue efforts. But a cooler
and wetter late spring and summer saved us by mitigating a harsh winter loss
of moisture.
But the original dredging estimates (spoils needing to be removed) of last
winter no longer hold true. What this means is we do not know if the 1.5
million dollars allocated for dredging is going to be enough to dredge the
new channel and the whole marina. We hope the successful bidder can do all
the work for the allocated money. But we have had to prioritize areas of
dredging just in case it won't. So here are some decisions that have been
made to-date:
1. We will dredge a new channel and abandon the old channel. The new
channel will go straight out towards Promontory. This will be a great
savings in dredging money as the new path will be much shorter and safer.
2. We will do suction dredging. This will mean it is very unlikely
that a coffer dam will be constructed and the boats that are now in the
water should be able to stay
3. Priority number 1 is a new channel. Priority number 1 is to dredge
the NW basin to a depth to accommodate deeper draft boats. Priority number
1 is to dredge I dock.
4. Priority number 2 is to dredge the rest of the south basin to
accommodate all boats
5. Priority number 3 is to change the marina mouth to prevent further
silting.
All priority number 1 items were identified to gain successful access to the
lake as well as accommodate all current slip renters. If we do not have
enough money to dredge the WHOLE marina we can relocated boats from J and K
dock to the NW basin until further funds can be found or the lake, once
again, begins to rise. We have enough empty slips in the NW basin to
accommodate all the current slip renters if it is necessary to temporarily
relocate some boats from the south basin.
We have had some great luck during the early stages of dredging preparation.
It looks like we can dig below the hard pan of the marina located at the
4188' level. The suction dredging equipment shouldn't have much problem
with that. And spoils samples tested at acceptable levels (heavy metal
levels contained in the spoils). But we should also be prepared for
temporary delays during the actual dredging. Suction dredge equipment is
vulnerable to temporary breakdowns when it sucks up lines and other debris
in the marina. How many of you have had something drop into the marina from
your boat? We know there is a lot of line in the marina. We have found two
outboards in the marina. Add to that canopies, boat covers, sails, tools,
cell phones, beer cans, bottles, winch handles, etc.
LAKE LEVELS.
We have had another very lousy beginning of the water year for I was hoping
that we had changed patterns. But October only brought 39% precipitation.
And November was worse at 29%. There has been a very strong high pressure
camped out over northern Utah that has crushed all storms that hit it. But
we may be seeing a significant switch in patterns. NOAA (NWS) has predicted
a drier than normal winter for the northern Pacific states and a wetter than
normal winter for southwest U.S. The Great Salt Lake Drainage area was
predicted to either be wetter-than-normal or drier-than-normal (don't you
just love weather people). Well it started out being drier. Yet something
is happening out in the Pacific and the Pacific NW is getting slammed with
storms now. And it looks as if the high pressure camped over norther Utah
may be moving out. The current forecast models show northern Utah may be in
for a wetter cycle through December.
I have also talked to water watch experts. They indicate that early
snowpack isn't as critical to spring runoff as is late winter and early
spring snowpack. Remember that we are in a Super El-Nino weather cycle. It
appears whatever happens it will be big. This could mean big drought for
us. Or it could mean big moisture for us. NOAA is currently predicting we
will have equal chances of wet or dry early winter with a wetter-than-normal
late winter and spring.
Reservoir levels are better than the previous year. Ground water was better
than the previous year also. These are two key factors to a good spring
runoff. Now we just need the snow.
CRANE DAY
As soon as dredging has progressed far enough to get boats in I will
schedule crane days. It will take about five days to get everyone back in
the water so I will likely disperse the crane days over a couple months.
Once dredging begins please start working on the bottoms of your boats or
prepare them to go back in the water. We will not be able to keep the boats
in the parking lot this summer. Also make sure your trailers are moveable.
Last spring's crane days were quite the challenge with some of the mobility
issues of some trailers. We will have plans to store many of the cradles
and stands on-site. More details on that in the coming months.
BOTTOM-Of-THE-PIT PARTY
The Annual Bottom-of-the-Pit Party is Saturday, December 19th from 11am
through 3pm. This is the longest running tradition at Great Salt Lake
Marina starting back in the early 1970's. It is a social for the whole
marina community. It is an open style party with people bringing their
favorite chili dishes to feed the masses. There is always some very good
chili served during this party so don't miss out. Prizes will be given for
Best Tasting, Most Original, and Spiciest! For those not into cooking chili
side dishes are always welcome.
SLIP CONTRACTS
We will begin to email slip contract packages in the next few days. At this
time I have decided to only send contracts to those boat owners that have
boats either in the water or in dry storage. Once dredging work begins we
will send contracts to the rest of the slip renters who have boats in the
parking lot. For those that have boats in the parking lot we will still
send an email out requesting updates of addresses, phone numbers, etc.
Congratulations to those that made it through this whole email.
Thanks
Dave
Dave Shearer
Harbor Master
Great Salt Lake State Marina
Antelope Island State Marina
801-209-9142
