WHAT: Dredging for private yacht harbor.

WHO: Brian McGuire, president, Day Island Yacht Harbor.

WHERE: Northwest portion of Day Island Waterway, University Place.

PROJECT TIMELINE: July 16 to Sept. 15.

PRIME CONTRACTOR: General Construction Co.

PROJECT SUMMARY: Sediment-laden discharge from storm drains deposited so much silt in the waterway that private boat owners couldn’t get their boats in or out of the harbor during low tides. General Construction towed 60 privately owned boathouses out of the harbor, removed 44 creosoted pilings and is dredging bottom sediment. Old wooden pilings will be replaced with steel.

SURFACE AREA OF PROJECT: Slightly more than 3.5 acres.

spoils TO BE REMOVED: 15,000 to 17,000 cubic yards in the first of three dredgings. Over 10 years, as much as 46,000 cubic yards might be removed. Spoils will dumped in Commencement Bay at a state Department of Natural Resources disposal site off Browns Point.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: Sediment was found not to be contaminated. Replacing creosoted pilings will stop toxic seepage. Dredging will impact 1,980 square feet of eelgrass, which provides food and habitat for a variety of marine animals.

Rob Carson, The News Tribune

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What’s That? is compiled from readers’ questions and tips and other sources. If you’ve got a question about businesses in the South Sound, write c.r.roberts@ thenewstribune.com or call 253-597-8535.