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Integrated Waterfront Cleanup and Marina Development in Bellingham, WA Tom Wang, P.E. WEDA Pacific Chapter San Diego 2009 Slide 2 Project Overview Port of Bellingham is managing an integrated cleanup, new marina construction and waterfront re-development project within the Whatcom Waterway Cleanup Whatcom Waterway contaminated sediments Cleanup ASB sludges Establish new shoreline face for future development Construct new small boat marina Improve marine habitat and public access Slide 3 Project Team Anchor QEA KPFF Consulting Engineers Coast and Harbor Engineering Wilson Engineering BST & Associates Slide 4 Project Site Key Areas (ASB) Whatcom Waterway Log Pond GP Pulp & Tissue Mill (GP West) Port Terminal (BST) Central Waterfront GP Dock Cornwall Landfill Slide 5 Dredging & Capping of Multi-Purpose Waterway Deep-Draft Sludges Removed Whatcom Waterway Consent Decree Dredging Capping Dredge Areas ASB Outer Waterway Cap Areas Inner Waterway ASB Shoulder Chemical Dock Log Pond Central Waterfront Shoreline Cleanup Slide 6 Waterfront District Framework Plan (4/20/09)* * Plan is subject to modification based on continued technical evaluations and public input. Joint planning effort by Port and City Upland development by Western Washington University Focus on sustainable design, community needs and working waterfront Slide 7 Key Integration Challenges ASB Cleanup ASB dredge prism Sludge dewatering method Water and stockpile management Outer Waterway Dredge prism design BST underpier area and Log Pond transition Residual management Inner Waterway Engineered cap design (coastal modeling and propwash) Shoreline transition areas Disposal Landfill competition and escalating costs Slide 8 Key Integration Challenges Marina Development ASB berm design incorporates public access and habitat Float layout Landside development ASB landside stormwater improvements Other Key Project Challenges Coordinating nearshore and upland uses and infrastructure Multiple stakeholders (WWU, City, Port, Existing Tenants) Site stormwater temporary improvements GP Mill Site development timing Rail access and stockpile management Need to significantly raise grades at GP Mill Site Slide 9 Project Quantity Summary AreaDredge Volume (cy) Cap Volume (cy) Residual Cover Vol (cy) Armor Volume (cy) ASB Sludge414,00055,000 ASB Berm91,00026,000 Waterway312,000179,00030,000 BST Underpier8,0006,0002,000 Log Pond14,000 Shoreline Bulkheads> 500 feet to be rebuilt Shoreline Slopes> 4,000 feet to reconstruct Slide 10 10 ASB Typical Profile Defining native layer (i.e., clean surface) difficult Geophysical methods unsuccessful Several direct measurement methods used and correlated against boring logs Slide 11 11 Slide 12 Sludge Dewatering Hazco and Boskalis conducted independent pilot studies Centrifuge Filter press Belt Press Geotubes Stabilization Elutriate and leachate testing Slide 13 Waterway Areas with Special Issues Log Pond Transition BST Wharf Maple Street Clarifier Bulkhead Area Slide 14 BST Underpier Area Slide 15 Slide 16 Partially-armored slope Current design concept Diver-assisted hydraulic dredging Thickness Est. Avg. 5 ft Backfill removal area Residuals Management Maintain wharf design condition Slide 17 BST Log Pond Transition Area Current conditions Wharf Condition Berthing Uses Slide 18 BST Log Pond Transition Area Design issues High subsurface concentrations Propwash and windwave exposure Need for larger armoring Steep slope complicates placement Armor placement constraints Overhead structures Impacts of placement to structure Slide 19 Inner Waterway Main channel area to be capped Propwash is the critical design factor Gravel layer as armor Inner waterway slopes to be armored Windwaves are critical design factor Armor stone required in wave breaking zone Slide 20 Inner Waterway Steep-Slope Areas Design issues Existing structures Shoreline integration Existing upland use Waterway and upland future uses Impacts of sloping fill to navigation Narrow channel Potential future maritime uses Boat haul-out Slide 21 Maple Street Bulkhead Condition at -3 ft MLLW Issues Phasing of cleanup and upland improvements Land and navigation uses Slide 22 Clarifier Bulkhead Issues Clarifier structure remains for temporary construction use Phasing of cleanup and upland improvements Land and navigation uses Condition at -3 ft MLLW Slide 23 ASB Berm Reconfiguration Slide 24 ASB Armor Stone Reuse Analysis Good Long-Term Stone Quality Unsuitable for Armor Reuse Slide 25 ASB Armor Stone Reuse Analysis Good Long-Term Stone Quality Unsuitable for Armor Reuse Slide 26 ASB Armor Stone Reuse Analysis Slide 27 Public Access and Habitat Opportunities Slide 28 Marina Pathway Area Slide 29 Marina Habitat Areas Notes: *Slopes will vary depending on location. Slide 30 Numerical Modeling Numerical modeling is critical to effectively assess constantly changing alternatives from Port and Stakeholder input Base model set up to cover both remediation and development purposes Wind wave impacts Tidal circulation Whatcom Creek discharge impacts Propwash impacts Sea level rise and tsunami effects Slide 31 Wave Modeling (25 Yr) Slide 32 Stormwater Transitioning Existing stormwater systems inadequate for future development More than 80 acres require upgrades Currently plumbed to discharge to ASB Upgrades to be phased for future development Stormwater design to transition to City responsibility in long term Slide 33 Current Status and Schedule 30% design to be completed Spring 2010 Permit applications ~mid-year 2010 Bid advertisement ~mid-year 2011 Construction duration 3-4 years Consent Decree cost estimate Remediation $55 million Marina $23 million Slide 34 Questions?