Leaburg Lake boat landing project
Project description

Construction of a new boat landing near Leaburg Lake is part of EWEB's requirements for being granted a new federal operating license for its Leaburg and Walterville hydroelectric facilities.

In 2007 EWEB hired OBEC Consulting Engineers, a Eugene engineering firm, to conduct a technical evaluation of five potential sites. EWEB Commissioners discussed the alternatives and gathered public comments at several meetings held over a period of six months.

The Board voted 3-2 in favor of the Goodpasture Site, which is located just downstream from the Goodpasture Bridge. EWEB commissioners later voted to spend $559,900 to purchase the Goodpasture Site.

Boat landing layout design

The boat landing layout design was finalized at a March 2009 Board meeting. Key aspects of the design include:

  • No wetlands are impacted and tree removal is minimized
  • A new entrance location is as far west as the western property line will allow
  • 10 vehicle/trailer combination parking spaces
  • 11 vehicle parking spaces
  • A two-stall vault restroom located on the far east side of the parking area
  • A 20-foot wide concrete boat ramp with 3-foot water depth at its deepest point
  • A six-foot cedar fence along the western property line
  • A six-foot chain-link fence along the northern property line

The design does not include an automatic gate at the landing entrance or facilities for an onsite resident caretaker recreation vehicle.

See the Goodpasture Boat Ramp Proposed Design (June 2008)

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) hired an environmental consultant to perform an Environmental Assessment (EA) of the selected site. The EA was completed in October 2009.

Site preparation work to begin March 2010

EWEB will begin site preparation work in March 2010 in anticipation of starting construction this summer.

EWEB has hired a contractor to removed approximately 100 trees from the future site of the access road, parking area and boat launch, along with a few trees near the entrance of the highway to improve traffic visibility and some leaning cottonwoods that could pose a hazard to users.

The trees will be removed prior to the March nesting season. A survey will be conducted prior to tree removal to determine the early presence of any nesting birds.

Next steps before starting construction include additional vegetation clearance and re-grading work.

Documents
Public meeting minutes