Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
The planned final two stretches of the four-part Almota Road reconstruction project set for 2018 and 2019 will have a new twist as wetlands have been designated along the route.
The categorization was made two weeks ago after a consultant joined county public works for the design and planning process.
The category-four, upland wetland area extending 300 feet long by 25 feet wide along Penawawa Creek, just south of Stevick Road, runs right where plans are set for the expanded road. The creek crosses near the south end of the project before the intersection with Highway 194 at Onecho.
“There are going to be wetlands affected,” said Dean Cornelison, assistant county engineer. “Most likely it's going to be completely impacted.”
A wetland consists of an area of land saturated with water, in that it takes on the characteristics of a distinct ecosystem. Because the wetland area in question will eventually be under the new road, the county will be required to create another wetland area in exchange for approval to eliminate one.
Under federal law, when a wetland is taken out another comparable one is required to be created by planting cattails and other designated plants near a source of water.
How do you take out a wetland?
“Dig it up and put a culvert in,” said Cornelison. “Heavy equipment tears through wetlands pretty easily.”
The county will now proceed with design plans following its survey of the piece.
Once they determine the final amount of wetlands affected, Resource Planning Unlimited of Moscow (the county's consultant) will create a mitigation plan.
Also, the Whitman County engineers will soon start applying for a section 404 permit from the Army Corps of Engineers, which is its general permit for impact to U.S. waters.
After that, the next step will be to finalize right-of-way negotiations with landowners.
The wetlands mitigation will affect both remaining phases of the Almota Road project.
Phase four reconstruction is set for next year, an estimated $3.5-4 million job, spanning between Onecho Bible Church and Union Flat Creek.
Phase four is the final projected stage of the 15-mile project begun in 2009. Phase three will actually be done last because phase four's funding was approved first.
The Almota four work will widen and improve the road's base and lower it 10 feet in one area to improve the crest on a hill.
Phase three now is set for construction in 2019, funded by a $3.5 million grant from the state's rural arterial program for a 3.8-mile stretch north of the intersection of Sommers Road at Union Flat Creek.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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