At its March 20 meeting, the St. Helens City Council voted to approve a work order authorization for the city’s Lagoon Repurposing Project with Maul Foster & Alongi, Inc. (MFA).
The lagoon is located at the former Boise Veneer Mill site. In recent years, the city has researched the possibility of repurposing the lagoon into a solid waste landfill and relocating the current wastewater treatment plant in order to renovate the general area for more public amenities, according to the city’s website.
The approval was for “Phase 1C” of the project, as the city is exploring repurposing the lagoon into a “nonmunicipal-waste facility” for “receiving sediment, soil, and wastewater treatment sludge.” During the special council meeting on March 6, issues were raised about repurposing the lagoon to a landfill due to geotechnical factors.
The estimated total cost for all tasks is $863,200; however, the cost estimate is not a lump sum payment. According to the work order authorization, MFA will bill on a “time-and-materials basis.” The project would be 100% funded through FEMA and federal grants.
Q&A with St. Helens City Administrator John Walsh
The Chronicle & Chief contacted City Administrator John Walsh with a list of questions to better understand the scope of work and what the project could look like.
Below is a Q&A with Walsh about the project:
The Chronicle & Chief: “Can you describe what the council approved regarding the lagoon repurposing project?”
Walsh: “The City Council approved a scope of work to perform additional geotechnical work which will look at stabilization of the berm at our wastewater treatment plant. Risk assessment is the main focus of upcoming work since the most recent studies of the site have indicated that there are structural concerns with the berm’s stability in the event of a natural disaster such as a significant earthquake.”
The Chronicle & Chief: “What does the city ultimately hope to accomplish with the lagoon repurposing project?”
Walsh: “Resiliency in the event of a natural disaster is our primary focus at the moment. We need to ensure the structural integrity and safety of the berm. The treatment plant was built over 50 years ago and the lagoon technology is becoming more challenging to meet water quality standards.
“Repurposing a portion or all of the lagoon could help the City achieve the highest water quality standards and environmental protection for our community and the Columbia River. Repurposing the treatment plant would also return up to 50 acres of waterfront property to the community, allowing the opportunity to develop public amenities and a mix of uses.”
The Chronicle & Chief: “What grant funds are making this project possible?”
Walsh: “The City has received $1.4 million in state and federal funding to assist with the Central Waterfront Project. The Oregon Legislature approved House Bill 5202 which allocated $984,000 to the City of St. Helens for the Central Waterfront redevelopment efforts. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) also approved $387,000 through its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for the City of St. Helens to study wastewater treatment resiliency.”
The Chronicle & Chief: “Can you explain what the issues with the integrity of the lagoon are that you discussed during the council meeting?”
Walsh: “The lagoon’s berm was found to be built on silt materials. These materials are not resilient in the event of a natural disaster such as a significant earthquake. The treatment plant and wastewater lagoon are built immediately adjacent to the Multnomah Channel and Columbia River. We need to ensure the safety and integrity of the berm to protect our waterways and our community.”
The Chronicle & Chief: “What is the city’s message to citizens who are concerned about a potential landfill being brought to St. Helens?”
Walsh: “Safety and resiliency are the main priorities for the lagoon after seeing the findings in the report. Filling or repurposing the lagoon is secondary to ensuring the safety of our infrastructure. Community engagement and input will be a part of any process related to filling the lagoon. The city has many options it can consider when it comes to fill. We can be as restrictive as we want to be, and that will be part of the community discussion.”
The Chronicle & Chief: “What other uses did the city consider for the repurposing of the lagoon?”
Walsh: “No decisions have been made about repurposing the lagoon. Redevelopment concepts have included community ball fields, public access to the water, a boat launch, vehicle and pedestrian connections, an amphitheater, and residential development. Ultimately, any decisions about repurposing the wastewater treatment plant will be a public process that includes community input.”
Follow this developing story at thechronicleonline.com, thechiefnews.com, and in the Wednesday print editions of The Columbia County Chronicle & Chief.
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