Re: S-Wye

Dave, Brian,

That is correct about the bridges over the Powder R. on the proposed loop in the Dredge Heritage State Park. At least one will be curved the other not so much as I understand it. No pilings or posts midstream is correct. We were told several years ago because this is Bull Trout habitat, "don't even bother to submit a plan requiring posts in the water" because the plan will not even be considered. So we have to span the stream. Powder R. is not a large stream except in the spring thaw and runoff. We have some used bridge I-beams, but according to a Civil Engineers they will flex too much. This is all still being looked at by the Engineering firm.

S-Wye is down stream and beyond the Bull Trout habitat area, so we may once again consider a midstream post. That is still being looked at. With a midstream post we can use our I-beams and considerably reduce the cost to build. Also, we will be building on our own property as I stated earlier. In the park, we will be under the stringent scrutiny of Oregon Parks. Not that we plan to get away with something on our own property, but the state will go beyond the specs and rules to make 99.99% certainty that they will never be sued or have any issues. On our property we can build to accepted practice and meet all building codes. I get real excited when I think of coming into S-Wye and pushing back to Sumpter. Hopefully we will be doing this before I am too old to function.

We have a federal grant pending at the moment that we hope to use a small portion of to begin the extension to the campground on Philips Lake. We own the ROW from McEwen to Hudspeth Lane. See my maps on www.svry.com. This a distance of about 1 mile. The ROW needs to be built up after years of erosion, then we can use volunteers and/or local prison labor to lay ties, track and ballast. Going beyond Hudspeth Lane will require additional funding. Jerry, Taylor and others continually explore funding possibilies for taking the extension into the USFS property.

Hope this helps.

dan