Stimulus funding restores boardwalk

Published on July 30th, 2010

By JENNIFER GIBBINS

The Alaganik Slough boardwalk, the only accessible one in the Cordova Ranger District, is undergoing a $1,023,624 renovation, thanks to funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Walking the construction site with Teresa Benson, Cordova District Ranger; Bob Behrends, resource manager, U.S. Forest Service, and Martin Moe, executive director, Cordova Chamber of Commerce, the fragrance of yellow cedar permeated the air while the sound of hammers and machinery echoed across the delta.

The route is the second most heavily used site in the district, after Child's Glacier.

"It is a valued asset for locals and an important piece of the tourism economy for Cordova" said Moe. "Thankfully, the USFS has been very careful not to develop the site, preserving its natural character. It's one of the primary destinations for Shorebird Festival birders, but a visitor can have several different experiences out here -- birding, walking, picnics and access to the Slough."

Originally built in 1993-1994 by international volunteers from 14 countries and the U.S. Forest Service, the boardwalk was awarded the "Governor's Barrier Free Design Award", a statewide award for exceptional provisions for access and use by people with disabilities. The boardwalk edged out a vast array of construction around the state including office buildings.

"This past spring, the boardwalk looked a little wild. The effects of frost heaving had caused it to become unsafe. Eventually it tipped over and was closed," said, Benson. "Without the ARRA funding, the boardwalk would have been closed indefinitely and possibly permanently."

The new boardwalk will have the same footprint as the original. It is being built using 23,567 linear feet of Alaska Yellow Cedar. The Cordova District is the northern most range for yellow cedar. The cedar used on this project came from southcentral Alaska.

A back-to-the-future technology called helical piers is being used to secure the boardwalk into the ground. Helical piers are like enormous screws with just one or two very pronounced threads at either end.

"Helical piers have been in use for a hundred years, but have recently been rediscovered as an effective way to secure structures in areas prone to heavy frost heaving," said Behrends. "180 vertical piers and 96 lateral piers are being installed to a depth of 19 feet throughout the length of the boardwalk."

Thanks to a dedicated team of skilled craftsman, the entrance gracefully curves towards Alaganik Slough, maintaining its original height of just 30 inches above ground level.

The primary contractor, Kodiak-Kenai Cable, is owned by Old Harbor Corp., an Alaska Native firm. The sub-contractor, Alaska Foundation Technology, of Eagle River, specializes in installation of helical pier foundations.

Kodiak-Kenai, works around the country on projects for the US Coast Guard, federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, FBI, Air Force and others. When a project team is deployed, they work together and live together so its especially important that the team is cohesive.

In Cordova they have rented two houses and when not working, they are busy halibut fishing, ice climbing and sport fishing.

Jeff Lacroix, project manager, is enjoying the job.

"The Alaganik boardwalk project is definitely my favorite project of all the jobs I have worked on," said Lacroix. "We have great people and we are in a beautiful place." After three seasons in Alaska, he recently went 'local' and bought a pair of Xtratuf boots.

As we walked along the site, we were joined by Paul Clark, recreation and trails manager for the Chugach National Forest, and Susan Ruterford, recreation lands, minerals and heritage program staff officer for the Chugach National Forest.

Clark, who had been in his current position for just three weeks, is a past recipient of a USFS President Management Fellowship His career path went from active duty Army to Montana National Guard and then the Peace Corps in Fiji.

"Definitely one of the best parts of my job is overseeing trail work," said Clark.

Rutherford has worked for the USFA for over 18 years and helped to secure funding for the original boardwalk construction and the renovation. She put some of her own sweat equity into the original project in 1993-1994. "I remember the long line of tents that everyone was living in, and I have no doubt that some of those volunteers have come back over the years to visit," she said.

Every element of the project has been planned to minimize disturbance to the area. Construction began after the nesting season for geese. A narrow corridor parallel to the boardwalk provides for equipment staging and a foot path for workers. Equipment used on the project is light weight and compact. Inflatable Mat Jack pressure pillows, able to withstand up to 32,000 pounds of pressure, are deployed under the heavier equipment to provide stability and disperse weight in order to minimize disturbance to the delta floor.

The value of the ARRA funding to his firm has been imperative, Lacroix said.

"Here is a case of a project that is really important to this community and needed to get done," he said. "From a jobs perspective it's keeping our company going. I've been doing this all my life and so had my dad. He has never seen it this bad. The jobs just aren't there."

The Alaganik Slough boardwalk renovation is scheduled to be completed by the end of the summer and the USFS is planning a reopening celebration. Meanwhile, Lacroix is gearing up for pinks and silvers.

"I've never fly-fished before, so I just bought a fly rod and I am looking forward to getting out there and giving it a try."