Willamette River dock work comes up short on federal in-water deadline

By Rebecca Randall

The Lake Oswego Review, Nov 5, 2009

Submitted photo / City of Lake Oswego

The city of Lake Oswego’s dock project on the Willamette River down at Foothills Park did not meet a federal deadline for in-water work. The city is now applying for a permit extension with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The city’s dock project at Foothills Park did not meet an Oct. 31 deadline for in-water work. The city is in the process of applying for a permit extension from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

However, the project is further complicated because the city is requesting authorization to complete the work with either a drill or an impact hammer. Workers at the dock were able to drive in only seven of 10 piles due to bedrock that is too hard to drive the piles down to the desired depth, said Gary Evans, Parks and Recreation assistant director.

The permit must be reviewed by four agencies: The Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of State Lands, the National Marine Fishery Service and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Evans says that could take anywhere from one week to six months.

The city’s preferred method for completing the project would be a little louder and that could place more stress on the fish in the area. However, “we’re talking about a bubble curtain which contains the noise and vibration,” said Evans.

In the meantime, the city is finishing some minor on-land work.

If the city doesn’t get approval of the extension, the next season for in-water work begins July, 2010.

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