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Water Storage Improvement Projects
Access to clean water is vital to our community.
EWEB is hard at work making sure safe, reliable water continues to flow even as critical infrastructure ages and new challenges arise. In the next decade, we plan to construct new water storage facilities near 40th Ave. and Donald St. and replace the water storage systems at EWEB's College Hill and Hawkins Hill sites. The projects will be built to seismic and contemporary operating standards, providing more than 40 million gallons of resilient, safe water storage.
Dear East 40th Neighbors,
As we prepare to close out 2020, we want to reflect on what was accomplished this year, share an update on work in process, and preview next steps.

In this email, you'll find:

  • Year-end project status report
  • Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
  • What to expect in 2021
Year in Review
Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
What criteria is being used to determine site layout and tank placement?
Our goal is to make a well-informed and sustainable decision for the entire community that we serve. We are considering several factors in the siting of the tanks, including:

  • Elevation - the top of the water surface must be at 607 feet above sea level
  • Proximity to residences - to the extent possible, maximizing distance between tanks and neighbors’ property lines
  • Habitat - limiting impacts to sensitive/special plant communities and wildlife
  • Compatibility – placing tanks in locations and at buried depths to reduce impacts to neighbors’ viewsheds and enable continued public use of the site
  • Cost - ensuring responsible use of public funds
  • Access - ensuring adequate access for maintenance and emergency vehicles
  • Security - protecting water quality and limiting attractive nuisance behaviors
  • Excavation and construction - considering slopes and soil conditions in order to minimize the length and magnitude of disturbance, including tie-in piping and drain construction
  • Future planning - designing to accommodate one additional tank in the near term, and space to accommodate future replacement in 50+ years

How many trees could potentially be removed?
It depends on the final tank placement. Based on the preliminary site layout, we estimate that approximately 160 trees could be removed for tank #1 and approximately 100 more for tank #2. In total, that represents about one-quarter of the trees on the 10-acre property. The detailed design process which is happening between now and spring 2021 will confirm the exact placement of tanks as well as the number and location of trees that need to be removed.

Is it possible to save high-value habitat such as the healthy oak woodland on the west side of the property as well as the large, old firs on the ridgeline?
As part of the detailed design process, we are considering all feasible scenarios for tank placement and construction sequencing. We are aware that some very old, large firs live on the east side of the ridgeline, and there is a healthy oak woodland on the west side of the property.
We are looking for ways to site the tanks in a way that preserves as much high-value habitat and natural space as possible, while striving for a responsible balance between multiple criteria.

Will blasting be required as part of the excavation process?
Possibly. We will know more in late spring of 2021.

The decision of whether to use blasting will not be made by EWEB, but by the construction contractor. In our experience, contractors are sometimes reticent to use blasting because of extra safety requirements and specialized staffing who are required to determine how to do the work safely without impacting nearby homes and who need to be on-site to monitor the work while it is being done. However, if the rock is too hard, mechanical excavation could be even more difficult, longer and louder than blasting.

If blasting is going to be the preferred method of excavation, we will be working very closely with the immediate neighbors early in the process.

Upon a suggestion from a neighbor, we intend to include a requirement for the contractor to provide videos of blasting as part of the construction package so that neighbors will have a better idea of what this process entails.

How will the construction process impact neighbors?
We understand that construction impacts are a big concern for neighbors. In general, you can expect dump trucks, large excavators, cranes, front end loaders, skid steers and other typical equipment on site throughout construction.

As you can see from the project timeline, we start getting a clear picture of the construction process and schedule in the spring of 2021. Around that time, we will be communicating and engaging frequently with neighbors in the development of a Construction Mitigation Plan that establishes methods for regular communications with residents, and outlines strategies for noise management, dust control, neighborhood safety, and other construction impacts.

Based on the preliminary layout, is it possible to flip the construction and build the first tank in the meadow to preserve trees on the ridgeline for as long as possible?
Practically speaking, this is not an option we are considering. Assuming the preliminary layout, constructing the first tank on the south/southeast ridgeline would allow us to stage equipment in the meadow away from the critical root zones of nearby trees and give us maximum flexibility for construction of another tank in the future. Conversely, if we were to build in the north/northwest part of the meadow first, we would be constrained down the road—we wouldn’t have easy access to the tank site for construction. Ultimately, this would not only cost more, but could also result in more tree/habitat impact during construction.

The detailed design process which is happening between now and Spring 2021 will confirm the exact placement of tanks and construction sequence.
What to Expect in 2021
Neighbor Meetings
COVID-19 made communication challenging in 2020, but we are committed to hosting some kind of meeting with site neighbors in early in 2021. If necessary, this will be online, but we are hoping we can plan a safe, socially distant get together with neighbors on the site. We will be in touch in January to get your input on meeting format. In addition, we have reached out to Southeast Neighbors Association (SEN) and requested to be on a future agenda for a larger community presentation.

Ecological Study
Thank you to those who participated in the DOWL study. We expect to receive the final site survey report in late December and will share with neighbors in January. DOWL will continue to be involved in the landscape and site restoration plans.

Geotechnical Report
The results from the November geotechnical investigation are expected soon and will give us more information on how underlying rock and soil could affect tank placement and excavation.

Final Site Layout and Tank Placement Analysis
We expect to make final engineering decisions about tank design and placement in the spring. The final site design will incorporate ecological, engineering, economic, and social considerations. We expect to share the tank placement analysis results with neighbors in spring 2021.
 
Landscape Design
We will be working with our landscape architect, ecological consultant, arborist and neighbors to develop a thoughtful landscaping plan. Details on that process will be shared with neighbors in spring 2021.
 
Detailed Tank Design
Detailed site and tank design to develop construction documents will be completed by EWEB’s engineering consultant after a final tank location is selected. The schedule for this work will be shared as more details are obtained from the tank placement analysis.

Construction
COVID-19 put EWEB and our contractors a little behind schedule. While we originally expected to break ground in the late spring 2021, late-summer is now more likely. Neighbors will be given at least three months’ notice prior to construction activity starting.
Thank You and Happy New Year
Finally, on behalf of all of us at EWEB, we want to wish you a happy, safe and healthy year ahead, and to let you know that we remain committed to open and frequent communication throughout the project. We understand this project impacts you in very direct and personal ways. We appreciate the questions and feedback many of you have shared and we want to assure you that we are listening.

Thank you again for partnering with EWEB in this process. We look forward to continuing to work together with you and other community members to improve the resiliency of our water storage systems while supporting healthy habitat and public spaces. 

Sincerely,

Laura Farthing, Senior Civil Engineer/Project Manager
Jen Connors, Communications Specialist
Jeannine Parisi, Customer Relationship Manager
How to stay informed and involved
Contact the Project Team:
Call 541-685-7899
 
Project information and updates: eweb.org/waterstorage