REPORT ON GRAVES CREEK ROAD REPAIRS
FROM MURPHY LAKE RANGER, BETTY HOLDER
The Grave Creek road received substantial damage in
late November of 2006 as a result of a high-intensity rain event, the
same event that caused all the damage in Glacier Park
Grave Creek was partially diverted from its channel
and water ran down the road, leaving it mostly impassable by motor
vehicles from just south of Trail Creek Road, #114, and north to Drip
Creek.
The culvert at Drip Creek completely washed out
leaving a deep trench across the entire width of the road. It is impassable by motor vehicles.
Additional damage could occur as a result of spring
run-off.
The late fall rain event turned to snow within 24
hours leaving two feet of snow on the disturbed areas. This precluded any design or repair work from being done last
year.
A contract has been awarded to an engineering
firm to assist in the design of the road repairs.
That work will begin as soon as the snow melts and the engineers
can see the ground, take the necessary measurements, etc.
Design is expected to take at least 30 days once all the
necessary measurements are taken. Design
is expected to be completed in June or July, depending on when the area
can be accessed.
It is estimated the repairs may cost $300,000
or more and may include a retaining wall along Grave Creek. Funding is expected to be provided by Emergency Relief for
Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) program.
The funding request has been made but is not approved yet.
It is expected to be approved soon.
Federal regulations for this size of contract
require the contract be pre-advertised for at least 15 days and
advertised for 30 days. Once
proposals are received they have to be evaluated to select the best
proposal, which takes 15-30 days. Only
then can a contract award for the road repairs be made.
Contract award for the repairs is expected to occur in August or
September.
Once the contract is awarded the contractor
has a certain period of time to complete the work.
Again weather, such as heavy snow, could be a limiting factor on
when the road repairs occur. Another
limiting factor could be bull trout spawning which requires the work in
Grave Creek take place July-August.
Forest employees are working with Fish Wildlife Service on other
potential timing options related to bull-trout.
Forest Service employees understand what a popular
recreation area the Therriault Lakes, Ten Lakes, and Weasel Lake areas
are. Many recreate there
themselves. Those employees
are and will continue to work diligently to have the road repaired and
open as soon as possible, under the existing Federal regulations and
within the limitations the weather dictates.
A portion of the Grave Creek road will be
closed to public wheeled motorized travel until the road is repaired. The closure will be for all portions of the road that are
north of the Blue Sky trailhead.
