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Considerable time was spent discussing the required maintenance at the entrance of the line section at 24th Avenue. Inspector Todd was insistent that the large quantity of sediment collecting within 300 feet or so south of 24th Avenue be removed. He was also concerned that all of the large vegetation including the trees growing along the slopes of this section be removed along with the sediments bars. The inspector was also concerned with the bank sloughing occurring near Chambers Street, West 11th Avenue, and Bertlesen Road. Another area of concern was the heavy blackberry growth along the north bank of the channel near the fairgrounds. This was the area that the blackberries are so extensive it was impossible to do proper bank inspection. As you know we had planned to do the sediment removal south of 24th Avenue last summer. That was when we had several meetings to consider alternate solutions. Since it was nearly impossible to remove the sedimentation through volunteer efforts, we were going to do it with the Gradall . As you probably recall , before we got the work done last summer it got too wet. The work was rescheduled for early this summer. When we met with the South Amazon Volunteer Group at Morse Ranch earlier this year, they requested that the work not be done until after August. It is our plan to remove the sedimentation beginning on September 8th. We plan to lower the cat into the channel to push the material to where the Gradall can safely load it into trucks with a minimum impact to the banks. This method should minimize vegetation disturbance on the banks. We will need to do some minor leveling along the top of the bank so the equipment can operate. Hay bales will be placed along the lined section of the channel just north of 24th Avenue to trap any sediment that results from the channel work. We will try not to disturb anymore of the bank vegetation than necessary. We will also remove some of the heavy woody vegetation along the bank to meet the Corps requirement in this section. We will also use the Gradall to remove the sediment bars at the other mentioned crossings. We will replant disturbed areas to minimize erosion. Another volunteer work party could be utilized to remove the remaining woody vegetation between 31st and 33rd Avenues and to thin out the brush and trees that are just north of 29th Avenue that were of concern to the Corps Inspector. Randy, do you think the same group would be interested? It would be our plan to use the Gradall brush head to mow all the blackberries along the fairgrounds section. I think that the Gradall can also be used to effectively remove the blackberries through the park section. A volunteer effort to replant these sections and to do some on-going maintenance to keep the blackberries from reoccurring might be worthwhile. I have discussed this approach with Les Lyle and his stormwater staff. We feel that we can accomplish the work required by the Corp. in a manner that minimally impacts the channel habitat and vegetation. If you have any thoughts about this work, please let me know.