In order to remain eligible for grants through the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, the Port of Port Townsend will have to provide an update to its Comprehensive Scheme of Harbor Improvements.

Technically, the deadline for submitting was Sept. 1, but according to a recent memo from Eric Toews, the Port’s deputy director, a waiver will be sought by port officials to extend that deadline to mid-October.

Under the amended schedule, a public hearing will be held Wednesday, Sept. 23. Deliberations and adoption by Port commissioners of the updated scheme is set for Wednesday, Oct. 14.   

The updated Comprehensive Scheme of Harbor Improvements remains largely the same as the 2013 version, though it adds detail on a number of capital repair and replacement priorities.

“Like the 2013 Comprehensive Scheme Update it replaces, this 2020 version seeks to serve the needs of Jefferson County residents by providing a roadmap to guide development of the Port’s nine waterfront properties over the next 20 years,” the document reads. “It intentionally excludes the Jefferson County International Airport, which is addressed under its own federally mandated master plan.”

Eight major upland projects were outlined in the Port of Port Townsend’s 2020 Comprehensive Scheme of Harbor Improvements, totaling an estimated $9.2 million.

The list of projects includes: 

Work yard and boat yard resurfacing

Part of achieving the Port’s stormwater permit involves upgrading the gravel surfaces in the work yard and boat yard.

With very little resurfacing done from the 1990s through 2017, deteriorated gravel and fine material moves with stormwater, making it difficult to filter, in addition to carrying attached metals like copper and zinc. Per the Boatyard General Stormwater Permit for Boat Haven, discharge of metals needs to be controlled. Ongoing and recurrent rehabilitation of the surface throughout the yards in the form of three-year resurfacing cycles will be needed.

The estimated cost for resurfacing is $1,041,000 ($217,000 between 2020 and 2024; $241,000 between 2025 and 2029; and $583,000 between 2030 and 2039).     

Stormwater treatment system rehabilitation

Originally installed in 1996, the Port’s existing stormwater system was not intended for treatment purposes, but has been modified over the years to provide stormwater collection and treatment in addition to conveyance.

The Comprehensive Scheme assumes that filtration media, stormwater filters, perimeter sand filters will need rehabilitation approximately every five years. Four stormwater pumps are also in need of replacement, with two of those pumps needing to be swapped out in the next five years. The costs associated with rehabilitating the Port’s stormwater treatment system comes in at $705,000, spread across 20 years.

Washington Street rehabilitation     

The sinking of Washington Street, likely attributable to tidal influence from the nearby marina would, be addressed in three phases under the Port’s updated plan. The rehabilitation would include the installation of sheet piles along the south side of the roadway, as well as repaving. Over the next 20 years, the Port would spend $400,000 through the project’s three phases.

Main parking lot pavement maintenance

Boat Haven’s main parking lot requires regular applications of a slurry coat to maintain a good condition of the lot’s surface and extend the useful life of the asphalt. Slurry coating is projected to be needed at least six times over the next two decades at an estimated cost of $160,000.

Work yard and boat yard electrical service rehabilitation

Carrying a total estimated cost of $500,000 over three separate phases, the Port intends to address issues surrounding electrical conduits, wiring, transformers and pedestals in the work and boat yards over the next 10 years. The project would also include industrial-grade lighting in certain key yard areas to improve security and safety.

Sandblast containment facility

In an effort to contain the pollutants associated with paint removal through the use of abrasive blast media, the Port would construct a containment facility on a portion of the former Port Townsend Lumber site. The timeframe for the project would be between 2030 and 2039 and would carry an estimated total cost of $3.2 million (in adjusted 2035 dollars).

Marine Trades Building

Startup businesses in the marine trades could be housed in a dedicated building under the Port’s updated Comprehensive Scheme. The proposed 8,000-square-foot building would serve as an “incubator” facility to host startup and early-stage companies that lack the capital resources needed to build their own facilities. The facility carries an estimated price tag of
$1.6 million (expressed in 2035 dollars) and would be located at the old Port Townsend Lumber site.    

Six major in-water project areas were outlined by the Port in its updated plan, carrying an estimated total cost of $6.7 million.

The list of projects:

Entrance/ navigation channel dredging

As part of periodic maintenance, dredging of the entrance channel is necessary approximately every decade, and is anticipated to be necessary in 2020 and again in 2030. The Army Corps of Engineers recently conducted a hydrographic in preparation of near-term dredging efforts. The  Coast Guard’s presence at Boat Haven allows for dredging efforts to be funded through the Corps of Engineers. Project costs for dredging in 2020 and 2030 is estimated at
$1.25 million.

Main breakwater repairs

Approximately 600 feet of Boat Haven’s eastern breakwater was constructed in 1934 and due to its design is particularly vulnerable to storm-induced wave damage than the newer 1968 breakwater. The plan anticipates the need for ongoing repairs (approximately every six years) to the eastern breakwater in order to ensure safe navigation through the entrance channel. Repairs to address storm damage from 2018 would cost an estimated $350,000. Assuming similar need for repairs in size and scope, the port assumes an additional cost of $425,000 in the next six- to 10-year timeframe, with another $495,000 added on for the 11- to 20-year timeframe ($1.27 million over the next 20 years).

C and D-Dock/ linear dock renovations

Originally constructed in the late 1960s, C and D-Dock facilities are in need of extensive rehabilitation over the next five years. Replacement of rub boards, walers, installation of supplemental floatation and patching of deteriorated concrete surfaces would all be included as part of the renovations. Because a complete replacement of C and D-Docks has been determined to be cost-prohibitive (estimated at $8.6 million), the Port is recommending repair and renovation of the docks as needed to the tune of $1.7 million, thereby extending the useful life of the docks by about
10 years or longer.

Commercial basin dock renovations

Concrete docks used primarily by commercial fishing vessels are in need of renovation to extend their useful life. Rub boards, walers, supplemental floatation and concrete patching would also be recommended under the CHSI updates. This project would not include electrical service repairs or upgrades, or replacement of the deteriorated creosote-treated piles. This $100,000 project should be undertaken within the next five years.

Progressive piling replacement

Creosote pilings in the main basin and commercial basin are in “fair to poor” condition and will require progressive replacement in the near-term. The most deteriorated pilings would be prioritized under the plan and be replaced with galvanized steel pilings, with the intent of all
168 pilings being replaced under the new Comprehensive Scheme. The complete replacement of the pilings carries an estimated $2 million price tag.

C and D-Dock/ linear dock electrical rehabilitation

Electrical conduits, wiring, transformers and receptacles on C and D-Docks and the linear dock are in need of a complete rehabilitation in the near to medium-term (one to 10 years). The estimated cost of the project is $350,000.