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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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  • Secant pile installation – June 2013

June 6, 2013 – Construction Update

Construction continues at the two project sites: the parking lots located at 4608 and 3939 Lake Washington Blvd, (aka CSO 9A and CSO 11A, respectively).

Both sites are fully fenced, and a temporary path is in use at the CSO 9A site (aka the parking lot at Duck Bay).

Construction activities for the next several weeks include:

  • Drilling of dewatering wells at both sites. The contractor started at CSO 9A last week, and will begin at the 11A site toward the end of next week.
  • Shoring installation has begun. The contractor is installing the secant piles, which entail auguring a series of shafts into the ground, inserting a steel piling, then filling the augured hole with a concrete mix. Secant pile installation should be complete in the first half of July. The sheet pile shoring, at CSO 9A and CSO 11A, is scheduled to begin Monday, June 10, and should be completed in early July.
  • By July 19, the contractor will have demobilized from both sites, and the lots will be reopened for Seafair festivities.
  • After Seafair, the contractor will remobilize at both sites, and will complete their dewatering systems, and begin excavation.

The contractor and SPU will continue to make every effort to minimize impacts to the community.

Near-by residents may notice some noise and truck traffic along Lake Washington Blvd.

During the shoring installation, some minor vibration may be felt adjacent to the sites.

SPU will be performing vibration monitoring during the installation of the sheet piles at CSO 9A and CSO 11A in June, to ensure the vibrations remain within allowable levels.

Our permit allows the contractor to work the hours allowed by the noise ordinance (SMC 25.08) which are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday, and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.   While the contractor is permitted to work during those hours, their plan is to keep their work hours to 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Crews may be working on some Saturdays to take advantage of good weather and complete necessary work before the July 19 suspension for Seafair.

Seward Park Lake Washington

The well drilling machine.

May 24, 2013 – Construction Underway!

The construction phase of the Genesee CSO Reduction project has commenced at the two project sites, the parking lots located at 4608 and 3939 Lake Washington Blvd. (also referred to as CSO 9A and CSO 11A, respectively). Both sites are fully fenced, and a temporary path is in use at the CSO 9A site (the parking lot at Duck Bay).

Construction activities to occur over the next several weeks include the following:

  • Drilling of dewatering wells at both sites. The contractor started at CSO 9A this week, and will begin at the 11A site toward the end of next week.
  • Re-routing some existing storm drain pipes around the locations of the tank and vault excavations.
  • Shoring installation is scheduled to begin on May 30th. The contractor will begin installing the secant piles by drilling a series of shafts into the ground, inserting a steel piling in each, then filling the augured holes with a concrete mix. Secant pile installation should be complete in the first half of July. The sheet pile shoring, at CSO 9A only, is scheduled to begin in early June and should be completed that month.
  • By July 19th, the contractor will have demobilized from both sites, and the parking lots will be re-opened for Seafair festivities.
  • After Seafair, the contractor will remobilize at both sites and complete their dewatering systems. Then they’ll begin excavation.

The contractor and SPU will continue to make every effort to minimize negative impacts to the community. Nearby residents may notice some noise and truck traffic along Lake Washington Blvd. S. During the shoring installation, some minor vibration may be felt adjacent to the sites. SPU will be monitoring vibration during the installation of the sheet piles at CSO 9A in June, to ensure the vibrations remain within allowable levels.

Our permit allows the contractor to work between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday; however, they hope to minimize the number of days they need to work past 4 p.m. Work will only be allowed on weekends or holidays under special circumstances and with prior approval by DPD.

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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