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Seward Park Lake Washington

Water quality along Lake Washington Blvd. in southeast Seattle will be improved by the Genesee Basins project.

Genesee Basins

The Genesee Basins projects combine additional storage and transmission pipeline to control about 600,000 gallons, reducing overflows into Lake Washington. When finished in 2015, the Genesee projects will bring three combined sewer basins into control.

Because of topography and other factors, Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) opportunities are limited in the Genesee Basins. Opportunities may exist for small-scale projects; these are being evaluated.

Project Updates

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May 15, 2013 – Public Meeting

A drop-in meeting will be held on May 15th, from 6 – 7 p.m., in the parking lot along Lake Washington Blvd. S., between 48th & 49th Ave. S. This will be an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed landscaping plan for restoring the area to its normal use after construction of a 380,000 gallon underground storage tank. It will be a chance to meet and ask questions of the contractors who will be doing the work, as well as key members of the SPU project team.

March 22, 2013 - Construction is about to begin! 

Here’s an approximate schedule for the coming months.

On about April 1st, surveyors will be at both Genesee project sites to mark specific locations prior to the start of construction. 

On April 11th, Hoffman Construction, the contractor awarded SPU’s work on this project, will begin to mobilize their equipment and personnel. Temporary fencing will be erected and the lake side trail will be relocated where Lake Washington Blvd. S. meets 53rd Ave. S.

May 1st is the target date to begin installing shoring – the safety structures required when excavating deep holes. That work must be completed by July 19th, and the area will be cleaned up and the temporary fencing removed. In effect, the project will stop for Seafair.

On August 12th, Hoffman expects to return to the site, put the temporary fencing back up and begin excavation. Construction of the concrete tanks is scheduled to begin September 3rd. 

SPU analyzed multiple alternatives to reduce Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) in three Genesee basins in order to meet the regulatory requirement. The preferred alternatives identified in the SEPA environmental checklist and the Engineering Report to the Washington State Department of Ecology are:

  • Underground storage in the parking lot along Lake Washington Blvd. between 48th Avenue South and 49th Avenue south (49th Avenue South Parking Lot
  • Underground storage in the parking lot along Lake Washington Blvd. south of Lakewood Moorage and at the end of 53rd Avenue South (53rd Avenue South Parking Lot)

SPU will be presenting these preferred alternatives to the City Council for approval in summer or fall 2011. SPU will also continue developing information for design of these projects. Due to the nature of this work, you may notice SPU and contractors conducting field work around the area. The latest project notices will be provided here.

Public Hearing 

The City Council’s Parks and Neighborhoods Committee will hold a public hearing on proposals that authorize SPU to construct the underground storage tanks on the two Genesee tank sites. The hearing will be held on Thursday, February 7, 2013 at City Council Chambers, Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue, 2nd Floor. It is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Learn more > (pdf)

Meetings

If you live, work or visit the Genesee area, we’re looking forward to getting your input.

All documents are in PDF format.

  • February 20, 2013, Community Meeting - presentation
  • February 7, 2011, Friends of Seattle's Olmsted Parks Briefing
  • January 27, 2011, Seattle Parks Board Meeting -presentation
  • January 20, 2011, 6-8 p.m. Public Meeting at Lakewood/Seward Park Community Club - notice, meeting notes, presentation
  • November 9, 2010 Public Meeting at Lakewood Seward Park Community Club - notice, presentation, meeting summary
  • November 1, 2010 Friends of Seattle's Olmsted Parks Briefing
  • October 12, 2010 Neighborhood Meeting at Lakewood Seward Park Community Club - notice
  • September 21, 2010 Public Meeting at Rainier Valley Cultural Center - notice, presentation
  • September 14, 2010 Lakewood/Seward Park Community Association Briefing - notice, presentation
  • August 26, 2010 Genesee Park Neighbors Association Briefing - notice, presentation
  • August 21, 2010 Genesee Poster Session - notice, presentation
  • June 23, 2010 Southeast District Council Meeting - presentation

Project Schedule  

The State Department of Ecology has set the following schedule for Genesee CSO Reduction Projects:

Genesee CSO Basin 43 Project

  • Complete and submit draft Engineering Report - December 31, 2010
  • Complete and submit for approval a Final Engineering Report - May 31, 2011
  • Complete and submit draft plans and specifications - January 31, 2013
  • Complete and submit for review and approval final plans and specifications - June 30, 2013
  • Begin construction - April 24, 2013
  • Complete construction - September 29, 2014 

Genesee CSO Basins 40 and 41 Project

  • Complete and submit draft Engineering Report - December 31, 2010
  • Complete and submit for approval a Final Engineering Report - May 31, 2012
  • Complete and submit draft plans and specifications - January 31, 2014
  • Complete and submit for review and approval final plans and specifications - June 30, 2014
  • Begin construction - April 24, 2013
  • Complete construction - September 29, 2014 

Final Reports

All documents are in PDF format.

Questions?

Contact the Genesee Basins project team.

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