The revised assessment could include the development of new alternatives, said a park news release.
“Members of the public brought up important issues, particularly surrounding accessibility, safety, and visitor experience, and we will fully examine and analyze them as we develop the revised EA,” Park Superintendent Karen Gustin said in a news release.
There were 143 responses received by the park during the original public comment period, including letters, emails and responses submitted through the National Park Service Planning, Environment and Public Comment website. All the responses will be posted on the website early this year, minus commenters’ names and personal information.
Another 30-day public comment period and public meeting also will be scheduled.
New impact analysis will be undertaken for any new alternatives developed in the revised environmental assessment.
The trail improvement project would implement actions identified in the park’s 2008 General Management Plan and the 1998 Lake Crescent Management Plan. The intent is to extend and improve the existing Spruce Railroad Trail, located on the north shore of Lake Crescent, and construct new trail along the historic railroad grade in the park’s Sol Duc area.
The purpose is to improve the historic Spruce Railroad grade within the park as a non-motorized, multipurpose trail as identified in both plans. This includes the existing Spruce Railroad Trail.
ELWHA DAM UPDATE
Biologists monitoring fish returns to the Elwha River determined last week that the late fall runs of chum salmon have ended, allowing dam removal work to begin again, two weeks earlier than projected. Three ‘fish windows’ are scheduled throughout the year, designed to protect fish from sediment releases caused by dam demolition.
Contractor Barnard Construction Inc. was able to adjust its work schedule and began demolition work at Elwha Dam on Monday.
Since the work resumed, crews have shifted the river three times, moving it between the left and right channels.
The back-and-forth movement of the river’s flow allows the contractor to drop the level of the two channels in small increments. That allosws for a slow and deliberate lowering of the reservoir, said a park news release. The slow drawdown is one of many strategies being used to manage the movement of sediments that have accumulated at the bottom of the two reservoirs.
Crews have removed about one-half of the dam’s overall height.
At Glines Canyon Dam, a new and more powerful hydraulic hammer was installed Tuesday on the barge-mounted excavator. The hammer will allow the contractor to make more efficient progress on dam demolition, the press release said. In the coming week, crews will lower the dam to 552 feet, with flows increasing about 250 cubic feet per second. The dam and reservoir will be lowered another seven feet to 545 feet next week. Flows will again increase by about 250 cfs.
