DFCM released the REBID Request For Proposal today for dredging Great Salt Lake Marina.  It is unlikely any substantial dredging will be done until spring as it is anticipated that a successful bidder will need to proceed with getting a NATIONWIDE permit from ACOE.  But it is possible emergency dredging may begin sometime late October or mid-November.  This emergency dredging, in accordance with ACOE, will only allow us to dredge areas that must be done for rescue boat access to the lake.

In order to get as much dredging done as possible the State has opened up options on how a successful bidder may dredge the marina.  It is very possible that a coffer dam may be built at the mouth of the marina; ALL boats and docks would need to be removed from the marina in order for dry dredging.  If the coffer dam and dry dredging is selected it would be necessary to pull all the boats sometime early spring.  We will know more about this option by the end of October.

Also Union Pacific has tentatively agreed to hold off breaching the causeway until sometime early to mid-December.  They were scheduled to breach at the end of this month which would mean we could lose as much as 1.5’ just from the breach alone within 3 to 5 weeks of breaching.  Add that to the lake level loss from evaporation over the next two months and this would have devastating impacts to the lake levels in the marina.  Holding off the breach until sometime in December should help some as the lake will hopefully already be rising again from winter snowpack and direct precipitation.

I will keep you posted as I hear confirmed information.

Thanks
Dave

Dave Shearer

Harbor Master

Great Salt Lake State Marina

Antelope Island State Marina

801-209-9142