Klopp Lake Trail Closed for Wastewater Treatement Facility Improvements Project

This is a press release from the City of Arcata:

Klopp Lake Trail at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary will be closed starting Monday, Aug. 14 until Friday, Sept. 15 for Phase One of the Arcata Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvement Project. Additionally, part of the Bay Trail, near Allen Marsh, will be closed Monday, Aug. 14 and Tuesday Aug. 15. 

The City of Arcata Wastewater Treatment Facility (AWTF) is continuing its Facility Improvements Project with rehabilitation of the wastewater treatment enhancement marshes and construction of new infrastructure at the Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary. Construction will continue on the Hauser Marsh outlet structures, on South I Street and trenching and conduit work around Klopp Lake will begin in on Aug. Additionally, the Boat Launch Project is concurrently constructing a new boat dock near the South I Street parking lot. Construction will generally take place Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. On some days the contractor may extend work hours from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The trail closer will stay in effect over the weekends when necessary for public safety. Access to public trails around the Brackish Marsh, Allen Marsh and Hauser Marsh may be temporarily closed during construction activities. 

Construction activities in the treatment enhancement marshes include, but are not limited to: open trenching and conduit installation in the Klopp Lake levee and trail, completion of the new outfall 003 between Gearhart and Allen Marshes and continued construction of the new Hauser Marsh outlet structures. 

We would like to remind the public that the roadway and trail closers are for safety reasons. The Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires all people in construction zones to wear protective equipment (shoes, hardhat and safety vest) when construction activities are occurring. Detour and closers signs will be posted only when trail access is restricted for public safety. Please follow all closer signs to limit your risk of injury and to allow the contractor to continue working uninterrupted, without needing to stop activities for passersby. 

For closure updates, check out the City’s new interactive road and trail closer map found at the bottom of the City of Arcata’s home page or at the following link: https://arcg.is/bDn81

The City of Arcata has contracted with Wahlund Construction, Inc. for Phase One of the project. Funding for this project, a project funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, has been provided in full or in part under the California’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which is capitalized through a variety of funding sources, including grants from the United States Environmental Protection Agency and state bond proceeds through an agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board. Additional funding for UV equipment has been provided in part by a HUD Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). 

The City has received all environmental permits and approvals for the project and has completed all pre- construction bird, amphibian and botanical surveys. The City is working with a multidisciplinary team of consultants and city staff to monitor construction activities and minimize environmental impacts in and around the City’s core wastewater treatment facilities and the publicly accessible enhancement marshes. Please do not remove any staking or flagging found in the project area. Flagging and staking is used to mark new structures to construct, utilities, areas cleared by biologist and areas of concern to avoid during construction. Mitigation measures, including vegetation restoration, will commence after construction activities are completed. Construction activities will be ongoing for a duration of three years, with an anticipated end date in December 2025. The City would like to thank residents for their ongoing support and understanding during the construction period. 

For further information about the Arcata Wastewater Treatment Improvement Project, please contact the Environmental Services Department at (707) 822-8184.