We had another Dredging Meeting early this week. Things are looking very good. We have identified four potential sites to deposit spoils. Of those sites we are focusing on only two of them now and are working on setting up a meeting with USACE to see if they agree that the two chosen sites are not wetlands. If they agree then we are a very big step closer to digging. This was the biggest hurdle to moving forward with dredging. If we could not come up with a site to deposit spoils that wasn't wetlands we would either need to obtain a permit or remove spoils by truck. A permit could take four to 12 months. Hauling off would be very expensive and limit how much dredging we could do. Spoils samples are back and, although the still need to be studied, they look favorable. But some work still needs to be done: While we wait for a decision from USACE the company doing the design work will continue to move forward on preparing all documents as well as the two required surveys of the sites. Bid documents will need to be completed after USACE gives us a letter saying no permit will be required. Bid will have to be published and then a successful bidder will have to be awarded Winning company will have to mobilize equipment With all this said, we could be dredging possibly as early as February. The location of two sites closer to the marina will mean that more money will be available for dredging rather than mitigation or hauling spoils by truck. I will keep you posted on further developments but I am very encouraged right now. Dave Dave Shearer Harbor Master Great Salt Lake State Marina Antelope Island State Marina 801-209-9142
