Michael Wells, Valdez Fisheries Department Association Inc. (VFDA), stated the purpose is to provide VFDA with an inter tidal area to mature and hold spawning salmon for its annual hatchery egg take needs. Similar work has been conducted to maintain and modify the pond over the years. This project would remove sediment that fills in from time to time from the overspill of Solomon Lake which is transported down Solomon Creek and deposited in the brood pond and along the alluvial fan at tidewater. The project site is located within Section 16, T. 9 S., R. 6 W., Copper River Meridian; Latitude 61.0896º N., Longitude 146.2950º W.; near Valdez, Alaska. PROPOSED WORK: Dredge approximately 3700 cubic yards of gravel fill from existing inter tidal pond to a maximum depth of -2.3 feet MLLW. Additional dredging of 900 cubic yards of gravel fill would be removed from an inter tidal area of Solomon Creek between the pond and the fish weir identified as the upper channel. Except for 350 cubic yards of fill that would be placed above high water in the designated fill area located at Latitude 61.084593° N, Longitude 146.302668° W, all fill would be used to repair the ring dike to an approximate top width of 35 feet and a top elevation of 6 feet MLLW, creating a 10/1 slope on the interior of the pond. Existing rip rap would be salvaged and repositioned along exterior dike wall and new filter material and Class II Riprap would be added to armor the exterior side of the dike at a slope of 2/1 and reduce erosion. A cut out of dike between stations 7+00 and 9+00 would provide addition flushing and access at high tide. All work would be performed in accordance with the enclosed plan (sheets 1-10), dated March 15, 2023. In total, 4,600 cubic yards of material would be dredged below the MHWM, and 4,250 cubic yards of dredged material would be discharged in 3.865 acres of waters of the U.S. below the HTL. Please contact Olivia Ortiz at (907) 753-2586, toll free from within Alaska at (800) 478-2712, or by email at Olivia.K.Ortiz@usace.army.mil if further information is desired concerning this public notice.
POA-1979-00181 Port Valdez PN