Unscheduled Tusty Stop in Seldovia

by Jenny Chissus

The Tustumena has made an unscheduled stop in Seldovia this morning!  After 4 lines broke free in Homer, due to high winds and rough seas, the MV Tustumena has retreated to the safety of our protected Seldovia Bay ferry dock.    She arrived this morning around 9am and as it stands right now, she has plans to stay through until tomorrow morning.

I spoke with the City Manager Tim Dillon who stated that the Tusty is on its way to dry dock for the annual maintenance of the vessel.  This is just a holding spot until it is safe to get underway again.  The ship is down to its skeleton crew, so there is no chance of dining on the vessel while it is in port – that would have been great!  Also, for those who have called to ask if they could get a ride back to Homer, that answer is “no” also, as the Tustumena will be going back to the shipyard.  So, we say “adieu” to the Tusty until the 21st of April 2013!  Next ship to come into  our ferry terminal will be the Kennicott!

To All Seldovia Well Owners

by Jenny Chissus

After the recent flooding in so many areas on the Kenai Peninsula, the quality of the water in private wells is of major concern to the borough.  The KPB is offering an opportunity to assist the property owners across the bay. (that’s us!) They will be sending over the test bottles so that we may take our well samples, have the samples returned to Homer, and transported to Soldotna within the tight time frame required for accurate testing.

Besides having the transportation handled for you, this is also a great opportunity to manage this timely test at a reduced cost!  The homeowner will be responsible for the reduced price of $39 for the water test fee, and thanks to the City of Seldovia for taking care of the shipping costs!!

The Kenai Peninsula Borough is arranging to have water tests kits delivered to the Seldovia City Office on Tuesday, October 23rd – where interested home owners may pick them up sometime Tuesday afternoon after 3pm.  If you are interested in getting a sampling bottle – please stop by the City Office early, as there is a limited amount.

The key to an accurate test, will be that the test sample makes it to the Soldotna testing facility within 24 hours from the time the sample is taken from the well.  It is essential that you pick up the bottle and take the sample from your well as close to the pick up time as possible.  The later the test the better (i.e. Wednesday morning), but you may conceivably test as early as 3 p.m. Tuesday.  It’s a 24 hour time frame and the borough plans to have the tests to the lab by 3 p.m. Wednesday.

The bottles will need to be returned to the City Office for delivery by 11:00am Wednesday morning, as they will be flown back to Homer before noon on Wednesday.  The Borough has arranged to pick all the samples up at the Homer Airport and deliver them to the lab in Soldotna.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Wells must be purified prior to testing. Click here to download the information required to test your wells.

You can click on the image to the left to view the process, and on the link below to read the full report.

http://www2.borough.kenai.ak.us/emergency/Flood12/Flood%20Packet2.pdf

For more information, please contact:

Bonnie Hanson
Administrative Assistant
Kenai Peninsula Borough
Office of Emergency Management
253 Wilson Lane
Soldotna, AK  99669
907-262-4910 Office
907-262-2095 Direct
907-714-2395 Fax

KPB Office of Emergency Management Provides Access to the State Disaster Assistance Center

by Janelle Hames

No More Boiling Water

by City of Seldovia

Gorgeous Fall Day

Enjoy this picture of a beautiful day in Seldovia, Alaska.

Kenai River Closed Until Further Notice

by Brenda Ahlberg

NOTE: THE KENAI RIVER IS CLOSED TO ALL BOATING TRAFFIC, EFFECTIVE 1:00PM 09/24/12, AND SHALL REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL DECLARED SAFE – AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, DIVISION OF PARKS & OUTDOOR RECREATION, KENAI/PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND AREA

City of Seward – Press Release #20

Sunday, September 23, 2012 at 4:00 p.m.

*New Information:

Be Advised! The Department of Environmental Conservation has issuing the following advisory for Kenai Peninsula property owners near flooding streams and rivers: Flooded wells may be contaminated with bacteria or other microorganisms that can cause illness. People with onsite wells on flooded property should boil water used for drinking, cooking, hand washing, or dish washing. Boil filtered and settled water vigorously for two minutes. After the flooding has subsided, the well and water system should be disinfected with chlorine and thoroughly flushed, and then tested by a certified laboratory to ensure the water is safe to drink.

Seldovia Beach Cabin Almost Washed Away!

by Jenny Chissus

Seldovia property owners, Scott and Janet Ogan, who live on the west side of Seldovia Bay awoke to what sounded like a 747 landing on the hill behind their cabin!   Due to the heavy rains, a major landslide came down the hills behind their home with rock, dirt and trees in tow.  Scott and his wife jumped out of bed and ran to safety away from the flow, as the total destruction of their cabin seemed imminent.

They are so appreciative of Russ and Jordan Geagel, and John, who came over to help in their time of need, moving rock and removing fallen trees.   In addition to the landslide, over the night, a good portion of the beach eroded away.  He exclaimed to me over the phone “Do you see the brown water in the bay?  That is our real estate floating away!”  Their next step is removing  landslide debris and working to preserve what is left of their beach.

Scott is so thankful that they were on site for this storm, as they truly believe they would have lost the cabin altogether had they not been able to divert the water and redirect and move the debris away from the cabin, along with the incredible help of a few friendly and generous Seldovians!

Scott called me today as he is need of a small backhoe, bobcat (something less than 10,000 pounds) or piece of equipment that can move rocks and trees on the beach.  They have secured a barge, but desperately need some help with equipment – it is too big of a job to perform by hand.  The situation needs to be managed as soon as possible, as they certainly can’t go into winter weather in this compromised situation!  If you have equipment and can offer some assistance Please give Scott a call or text him at: 907-982-2469 or 907-355-4667

Public Notice, High Turbidity Levels in Seldovia’s Drinking Water

by City of Seldovia

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER

City of Seldovia’s Public Water System Does Not Meet Turbidity Standards

This notice is being provided as a public education and health advisory regarding the City of Seldovia’s Public Water System.  Our water system occasionally does not meet drinking water turbidity (cloudiness) standards for an unfiltered water system.    Although this is not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know about your water system’s water quality, as well as what you should do in response to this high turbidity event, and what we are doing to correct this situation

Seldovia’s water system uses chlorine to treat the water.  We currently do not filter the water.  As a water system that does not filter the water, we are required to test the source water turbidity (cloudiness) several times each day.  Water samples taken in mid-September, 2012 were above 1.49 turbidity units, (above the standard) but are still below 5.0 NTU (maximum limit allowed). The explanation for the elevated levels is due to heavy rains. We do expect the turbidity levels to come back into acceptable range as the heavy rains cease.

Why is this notice being provided and what should I do?

This notice is being provided so that you are aware that our water system is not meeting water quality standards.

• This is not a boil water notice, but rather a public health advisory.  We do not know of any microbiological contamination at this time and our routine bacteria tests have shown no disease-causing

Seeding Day Cancelled

by Jenny Chissus

I just got off the phone with Kari Hendrich who called to  CANCEL the work day at the RV park ball field due to all the rain!  Unfortunately, there is still some raking to be done to level the field in a few places and it would be very difficult to achieve due to the fact that the ground is soaked!  It would be a mud fest and if the weather continues, the seeds will rot in so much water – as there is standing water in places on the field.

We really appreciate everyone’s willingness to help, and we don’t want to waste anyone’s time doing a task that won’t produce the great results we know are possible.  Should the weather clear this week, and the field dry out a bit – we may reschedule the work day.  However, if this continues much longer, the weather will be too cold to seed now, and we will wait for spring.

Keep posted, and we’ll let you know if we reschedule!  Thanks so much for all your support, and willingness to help create a great recreational area!