Fishers on the Robert S. Keaton Memorial Dock at Hill Park seen by the Tribune on Wednesday, Aug. 20. The photo is to show the whole length of the dock.
Photo by Michael Whitney.
SNOHOMISH — Several piles holding up the Robert S. Keaton Memorial fishing dock at Hill Park on Blackman Lake have deterioration damage, a consulting dive team’s report says.
A repair estimate is being developed.
The city closed the dock in January because of safety concerns, and it remained closed as of Aug. 21.
It’s one of two fishing docks at Hill Park. The floating metal dock a few hundred feet away is open.
Last month’s visual inspection report from Aqua Dive Services, of Seattle, shows 21 of the dock’s 51 wooden piles have some deterioration. There are deteriorated joists as well; joists structurally hold up the dock atop the piling.
Divers also found some dock areas don’t have the minimum number of joists to meet industry standard. Seven’s the standard, 30-year industry expert Keith Landry from Aqua Dive Services said.
A minimum number of joists is required on public docks to meet the weight loads of people, the expert said.
The company was told by the city that during the dock’s history, somebody removed some of the old joists when they rotted, Landry said.
The piling at the shoreline are particularly deteriorated. This is common for fixed piers because water erodes the individual piles by slapping against them.
The company specializes in underwater maintenance and construction.
Although the dock is closed, last Wednesday afternoon a Tribune reporter saw people had ignored the barrier and were fishing off of it.
The underside of the more than 40-year-old wood dock raised concerns in a city facilities report late last year. The Snohomish Sportsman’s Club and the Snohomish Tillicum Kiwanis Club fundraised and helped put in both docks at Hill Park.
