Dredging Project Update

August 2008

 

 

CURRENT MILESTONES / WORK ITEMS

PURPOSE

STATUS

Establish Website

To share and communicate information about the project and process both internally & externally.  To gather public input (future use)

85% complete.  Should be up by mid September

Creation of Digital Library

To populate the website and share information

Complete

Sediment Sampling & Testing

To determine the ‘class’ of sediments (type and level of contamination – if any) which will dictate the dewatering & disposal options. 

Work Program complete – under review by DEC.  Sampling & testing scheduled for fall

Soundings

To determine current channel depth and amount of material to be removed.  This will inform the design of the dewatering site and the cost and schedule for the dredging operations

Underway. Canal Corps expects the soundings to be complete by the end of August.

Aquatic habitat assessment

To characterize existing habitat conditions in the area proposed for dredging. This information will be included in the environmental assessment.

Completed. Draft report prepared.

Interviews with waterway users

To gather information about channel impairment from the user’s perspective.

Contact list of about 35 names, 16 interviews completed; Should be completed by end of August.

NYS Capital Project Assistance Grant ($ 2 Mil)

Funding for planning and implementation

Award paperwork complete, contract in process at State.

Fact Sheet

To periodically disseminate information about the project to the public

Fall draft complete - to be reviewed by Public Outreach Committee at next meeting

Inventory Mapping

To identify and analyze potential issues in the project area: property ownership status, natural and cultural resources, land use, and existing infrastructure.    

The City GIS Program is currently working on this.  It will be complete by mid September

1st Meeting of Public Outreach Committee

To review fact sheet and develop a strategy and schedule for public (and internal) information dissemination and input. 

Wednesday September 17th

1st Meeting of Tech Advisory Committee

To review and evaluate technical progress to date, to review dewatering site criteria and potential sites

Wednesday September 17th