Belfair residents listen to their county commissioners speak at the Healthy Hood Canal Celebration (July 2008).

Belfair residents enjoy Olympic Mountain Ice Cream on a hot July 19, 2008 at the Healthy Hood Canal Celebration.

County Commissioners Lynda Ring Erickson, Tim Sheldon, and Ross Gallagher host a Healthy Hood Canal Celebration at Theler Community Center and Wetland Trails. US Congressman Norm Dicks, Sally Toteff from the Department of Ecology, and Mike Boyle from North Mason Chamber provided support to this effort and shared important perspectives with visitors (July 2008).

Members of the public have an opportunity to comment on the design of the new wastewater treatment plant at a public meeting in June 2008.

MBR Engineer Doug Berschauer points out details on the project map at an open house in January 2008.

Geotechnical crews begin work in Belfair along Roessel Road.

The geotechnical crew sets up along Old Belfair Highway. Understanding soil conditions and water levels are important elements for engineers to know to establish appropriate pipe and facility locations. This information is critical to the project success since it is needed to support facility and pipeline designs. For example, it will be used to design foundation requirements.

The boring tool, which is mounted on the drill rig truck, begins to push through the top layers of earth.

Crews drill small boreholes that reach the soils underneath to test the soil conditions and depth to groundwater. Most holes are filled after the initial data is collected, but some will remain with a “well.” These wells are used to record underground water levels which can be used to look at groundwater flows over time.

Engineers, earth scientists, wetland specialists, fisheries experts, and biological specialists are evaluating wetlands, plant life and fish habitat as part of the finalization of placement of the treatment plant, pump stations, and conveyance lines. The team is working hard to develop a design that fits within the natural systems.