Finally ...it starts

Read only if you are interested in docks and their replacement …had to record this…

More than 2 years ago, the State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) told our dock condo association that when the present (short) water lease was up (soon) we couldn’t get another until the wooden pilings that were leaking creosote into the water were wrapped to take care of that issue, AND the dock surface itself had to let in a certain amount of light (for the fish).  After much research, and not much knowledge out there of exactly what works to wrap all those (100s) of pilings, but it was all very pricey.. we started looking into starting over with the promise of a longer lease.   If we met DNR requirements (steel pilings but a lot fewer, and a composite lattice dock that lets in the right % of light—this one will float -we would get a nice long 30 year lease.   More than a year ago, we chose a dock manufacturer and made a contract.   They are only allowed to build under the water in the lake from Oct 15 to April 15, and of course they want to avoid winter storms.   Now we “just” needed the DNR permit and after that the city of Seattle building permit,  Missed the October window. to replace it.…no problem.. they’d start in March, it will take 4 weeks.   Well we’ve just had one month of the loveliest dry sunny spring weather, perfect for working.   Today its turned cold, windy and a bit drizzly.   The barge and crane showed up yesterday and today April 3rd they are putting some steel anchor pilings in and starting to dismantle the whole dock structure.  

But all the boats had to find other moorage unnecessarily for the last 2+weeks and it’s almost out of time!    The problem was getting the city permit…much red tape and unbelievable inefficiency!  But now they say it will be done by or close to April 15th (12 days?!!) and boats could come back while they are doing all the hooking up stuff above the water.   We’ll see.   :-)  They haven’t started to pull the old pilings yet.  Let’s hope they come up easily.

The little sign on the dockbox says "enjoy your Washington state owned aquatic lands"  !


Extra - 9:30 AM, watching the first steel piling being put in. and 4:30 PM, now there are nine (just place markers for now,) and the dock is being demolished in pieces …pretty interesting to watch!    And one at a beautiful but windy 7:30 sunset