DURING THE SUMMER and fall of 2020, the City of Bozeman began the process of upgrading the sewer main that runs through Sacajawea Audubon Society’s wetland. COP, the sewer construction contractor, has begun clearing trees on our property. In the portion of the sewer route that is outside the wetland area, which is more than 90% of the sewer route, they will be removing trees along a 30 ft wide zone to accommodate the construction equipment. In the wetland area, which is only a small portion of the sewer route, the clearing will be about 15 ft wide. SAS members Andy Epple and John Edwards are monitoring the sewer construction process to make sure they are following the requirements of the sewer construction plans and the federal wetland permit. Disruption of bird life is unavoidable, but the tree removal company is working to minimize the impact where they can.
Crews installed sewer pipe across the wetland to the east and west of the railroad berm. The process began with the installation of de-watering wells to lower the water table, followed by the laying of pipe.
On August 7, 2020 members of SAS Board of Directors and the Wetland Preservation Project Committee led Bozeman’s new City Manager, Jeff Mihelich, and several City of Bozeman staff members through the IAWP and informed them of our current plans for the property.
The SAS Board is currently working with Rich McEldowney and others of Confluence Inc. to generate the first phase of the Restoration Design.
