Energy Happa Park ADA Fishing Platform

Project Highlights

• The ADA-accessible fishing platform was constructed within the ordinary high water line of the Lewis River and required coordination with five different local, state, and federal regulatory approval agencies.
• The project was designed in coordination with fisheries experts at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
• The project required eight environmental and land use permits to build, five of which were obtained from Clark County.

Project Description

To meet Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) recreation facility requirements, PacifiCorp constructed an ADA-accessible fishing platform at Happa Park in Clark County, Washington. The platform will provide inclusive recreational access over the Lewis River, situated within a sensitive riparian area.

MacKay Sposito led all environmental permitting and construction compliance activities. Environmental permitting work included conducting a wetland and water delineation, performing a wetland functional assessment, and preparing permit applications, including a Joint Aquatic Resource Permit Application (JARPA), Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA), SEPA checklist, shoreline narrative, floodplain application, and building application. The firm coordinated extensively with regulatory agencies, including the US Army Corps of Engineers, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Department of Ecology, and Clark County to minimize ecological impacts, particularly to Endangered Species Act-listed steelhead, coho, Chinook, and bull trout. The team also developed riparian and in-stream mitigation measures to address any unavoidable implications within the Lewis River corridor. Our environmental compliance support included monitoring to ensure sediment levels during the installation of micropiles in the Lewis River did not exceed state-mandated thresholds for preserving water quality.

Introducing an ADA-accessible fishing platform at Happa Park significantly enhances community inclusivity by providing individuals with disabilities with equitable access to recreational fishing opportunities. Such facilities promote physical activity and foster social connections and mental well-being among users. Moreover, accessible recreational spaces contribute to the community’s overall health by encouraging outdoor engagement and reducing barriers to participation in nature-based activities. This project exemplifies a commitment to creating inclusive environments catering to all community members’ diverse needs.