Another obstacle arises in riverfront construction

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May 18, 2009

Permit bars construction in Ohio River until July 1

By CARRIE STAMBAUGH The Daily Independent Mon May 18, 2009, 10:54 PM EDT

ASHLAND — The planned start of construction on Ashland’s Veterans Riverfront Park is weeks away, but the project could face another delay.

An environmental regulation in the City of Ashland’s permit to reclaim land now in the Ohio River could delay work until after the end of the warm water fish spawning season.

City Manager Steve Corbitt said the city has requested a waiver from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which outlined the regulation in the permit issued in March 2008. As it now stands, the city would be barred from starting construction until July 1.

Corbitt said he has asked the Corps to allow work to begin in June. He called the latest potential delay in construction “a little glitch.” Reclamation work is the most complex part of the project and must be started first, Corbitt said.

Peggy Noel, a spokeswoman for the Corps in Huntington, confirmed the city had requested a waiver. She said that particular environmental requirement is placed in all permits for in-water construction at the request of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Noel said the two agencies were working together to review Ashland’s request.

“We expect to have a decision on the waiver any day. Once that decision is made, we will contact the City of Ashland,” she said.

Warm water fish spawning season is April 1 to June 30 each year.

Fish and Wildlife spokesman Mark Marraccini said the season is almost over but he could not speculate whether the waiver would be granted or not.

He said the requirement is intended to protect all species of fish that spawn during that season.

“It’s a fisheries conservation issue,” Marraccini said. “It’s for the good of everybody.

“You’re talking about a whole year’s worth of fish there. Sometimes waiting just a few days or a few weeks can make the difference in a whole fishery,” he said.

Preparations for construction are being made despite the potential that the start date could be moved back a month, Corbitt said.

Smith Contractors Inc. of Lawrenceburg was awarded a $6.2 million contract by the city to build the first phase of the park. The company plans to begin moving equipment and trailers to the site within the next week to prepare for construction, Corbitt said.

He said the city expects to have its $2.1 million order of steel delivered within the next two weeks. Meetings between all the parties working on the project are also scheduled next week, Corbitt said.

Construction of phase one, which will take place on the eastern most section of the park property between the river and the railroad tracks, could take up to 18 months.

Phase one includes the reclamation and construction of the first river wall that will double as a boat dock and boat ramp. Extensive contouring and grading of the new and existing riverfront land, including construction of the first earth mound — that will hold the restroom facilities — will also be completed.

CARRIE STAMBAUGH can be reached at cstambaugh@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.

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