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Goldendale council approves two airport grant applications to mitigate wetland, prepare for runway widening
Summary
The Goldendale City Council authorized two grant applications to WSDOT Aeronautics on June 2 to mitigate a wetland and prepare the airport for a future runway widening and safety-area improvements.
The Goldendale City Council on June 2 approved two resolutions authorizing grant applications to the Washington State Department of Transportation Aeronautics Division for airport improvements aimed at mitigating wetlands and preparing for runway-widening and runway safety-area work.
The first resolution (filed in the meeting as Resolution 745, with a clerical numbering correction discussed on the record) authorizes a phase-1 grant application to mitigate an existing wetland, extend an existing drainage culvert and support future runway safety-area work. Corley (Carly) McFarland of Precision Approach Engineering told the council the wetland delineation is underway and that the project may impact about one acre of wetland; mitigation is expected to be off-site and the mitigation ratio has not been finalized but is likely around 2:1 after classification.
“Anything that’s going to attract and hold water is a potential wildlife hazard attractant, and that’s not compatible with airport usage,” Corley McFarland said, explaining the city’s objective to mitigate impacts and avoid wildlife attractants near the runway.
The council approved a second resolution (Resolution 746) to apply for phase-2 funding that would enable engineered fill, compacted in place, to build up runway shoulders and a safety area in preparation for a future final widening of the runway to 60 feet and relocation of runway lighting. Rick Lundeen and Corley McFarland explained that, in steep sections adjacent to the runway, the work could require up to 15 feet of fill in the deepest places. The total cost for phase 2 was presented as $780,000; WSDOT Aviation, if awarded, would pay 95% of that amount.
The council asked about mitigation locations and timelines; staff said mitigation sites are being identified and that WSDOT typically announces grant recipients around July 1. Motions to approve both grant applications passed with council votes recorded as in favor.
No construction contracts were awarded at the meeting; both actions were to seek grant funding and to authorize grant-application signatures.
