Ross Lake Woody Debris Removal

Project Description

Seattle City Light will remove approximately 10,000 tons of floating woody debris on Ross Lake to maintain the safety and reliability of Ross Dam. Crews will tow the debris by boat from a debris pen on the western shoreline of Ross Lake, along the Canadian border, to a gravel staging area on the eastern shoreline. They will then remove the debris from the water, grind it down into large wood chips, and haul it into Canada on tractor trailer trucks. Total debris removal may require up to 18 trips per day, for approximately 42 days.

Location

Crews will process woody debris at the East Landing, in the United States, approximately two miles south of the Canadian border, at the southern terminus of the Silver-Skagit Road. They will haul processed wood north into Canada, through Hope, B.C.. via the Silver-Skagit Road. For more information, view the project document below.

Community Benefits

This work maintains the safety and reliability of Ross Dam by reducing the risk of failure from wood entering the dam.

Anticipated Impacts

Visitors to the North Cascades National Park and/or the Skagit Provincial Park may experience noise from equipment operations such as from the wood chip grinder and log loader, as well as from tractor trailer trucks hauling the material.

Visitors traveling on the Silver-Skagit Road are advised that they may encounter an increased number of loaded tractor trailer trucks during the work period.

Schedule

Work Start: Early July 2025

Duration: Around 4 months

Crews will determine work hours onsite. They may work from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Sunday as needed.