Blackwell Marina Expansion

Duane Hagadone’s proposal to dredge and expand the Blackwell Island Marina continues to have serious problems.

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality Director, Tony Hardesty, sent Hagadone a letter describing DEQ's concern about the effect dredging would have on ground water quality.  She said that the DEQ conducted two completely separate independent analyses of the hydrogeologic report submitted by Hagadone’s consultants.  Both DEQ reviews independently came to the same conclusion: “there remains uncertainty about the potential for this project to lower ground water quality of the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer.”

The Department of Environmental Quality’s mission is to protect this vital public resource from contamination.  This means that projects such as the marina dredging and expansion must be carefully designed and undertaken using the “best available methods,” according to Hardesty.

Kootenai Environmental Alliance (KEA) believes the Department of Environmental Quality took the right approach to protect ground water quality, public health, and the environment when it asked Hagadone to consider pursuing one of the following two options.

“Include in your project scope a ground water monitoring protocol designed to prove the conclusion of your analysis that there is ‘low probability of measurable impact on the aquifer’.  This would be with the understanding that if contamination did occur then DEQ would require remediation which would likely involve installation of a liner.

“Modify your project design to include the installation of a liner up front.  The design specifications of the liner could match existing conditions [and] therefore alleviate the uncertainty of the predictive analysis of impacts performed to date.”

Kootenai Environmental Alliance feels the impermeable liner should be installed to reduce the possibility of ground water contamination since Blackwell Island sediments are laden with toxic materials. According to Wes Hanson, a long-time critic of this marina project and KEA board member, “DEQ’s request represents a responsible step to protect public drinking water and the environment.” 
While installing this liner may prevent ground water contamination, other environmental issues remain, according to Barry Rosenberg, KEA’s Executive Director.  They include the need for Hagadone to submit a plan for the safe disposal of surface water contaminated by dredging, the safe storage of material stored on site, the safe transportation of wet spoils, and the safe and permanent storage of transported materials in an off site repository.

In addition, KEA is also concerned about petroleum spills from the refueling depot located near US-95, the ability of non-motorized boaters to safely paddle through large boat traffic, and excessive lake encroachment.
 
Rosenberg says, “I hope the Department of Environmental Quality’s recommendation to install a protective liner is welcomed by Mr. Hagadone as the way to protect public health and that the Corps of Engineers, in reviewing this dredging application, requires such a liner if it issues a dredging permit.”