Printable VersionKeeping fingers crossed, several officials are hopeful new docks could be installed at Windsor Beach by April.
 Nathan Bruttell/News-Herald Photo Local officials expect construction on the new docks, pictured above, at Windsor Beach, purchased in July 2009, will begin as early as next week. |
“We’re looking at being two or three months away right now and possibly much sooner if everything fell into place,” Christofferson said. “There are two aspects still pending approval that we’re thinking will be completed next week and we will issue a construction schedule at that point. … We fully intend to move as fast as we can.”
The Army Corps of Engineers finished a permit process and the BLM completed its environmental assessment recently. The project is still pending two of about eight different permit processes that are required for construction, but Christofferson said he expects the last two processes to be completed soon.
“We still need final approval to proceed by the (USFWS) office of federal assistance, who oversees the federal funding awarded to state game and fish for this project, and we anticipate that will occur next week,” Christofferson said. “And then the other authorization we still need is the final approval from Arizona State Parks and that’s dependent on them taking one last look at the design plans. So those are the two things that are pending. That’s our anticipation that next week we should have a green light to start.”
Lake Havasu State Park Manager Tim Kristof and game and fish officials are currently working on a construction schedule that will not interfere with any scheduled events at the park, Christofferson said.
“We want to have the least amount of impact on those previously scheduled events that we can,” he said. “We may alter the schedule to be at one location so we don’t interrupt anything unnecessarily. We have several people working on getting those done as quickly as possible.”
The Lake Havasu Marine Association initially raised $17,000 for the dock project in November 2008 and also obtained federal funds through Arizona Game and Fish Department officials. The docks were later purchased in July 2009. Marine Association Executive Director Jim Salscheider said he is hopeful construction on the docks will finish before the spring break season.
“It’s hard to believe we’re this close. I think we’ll have a bottle of champagne down there if that’s what really happens,” he said. “We’re going to just cross our fingers and hope nothing disrupts our schedule. I have to commend Ron for his hard work on organizing this project and working to ensure every process was completed. The reason why we’re this close is because of the effort he and several others have put into this.”
You can contact the reporter at nbruttell@havasunews.com
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