After rigorous testing of the continuity of the underground cables and termination connections at the vaults, construction on the underground electrical transmission system under the Coquille River and Floodplain was completed. Early Tuesday morning electrical power was disconnected from 1:30 am until 3:00 am to allow crews from Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative and Michels Power to perform the transfer from overhead to underground transmission lines. Lineman crews worked on both ends of the project site simultaneously to minimize the time of the power outage. At 3:00 am the underground transmission line was successfully energized by Doyon Project Services. Once the underground line was energized, efforts then focused on demobilizing and stabilization of the existing overhead line that is scheduled to be removed next summer.

During the week the USFWS continued to monitor bird use in the restoration area. Flocks of Canada geese are now using the area for loafing and feeding. In addition, raptors (e.g., white-tailed kites, northern harriers) are now using the area for foraging since the large equipment used in restoration have been removed. Short green grass is germinating in the disturbed areas and provides forage for both geese and the small rodents that the kites and harriers feed on. The hydro seeding of the former cranberry bog area is already sprouting and attracting Canada geese. Other wildlife observations in that area include killdeer and an uncommon blue-winged teal. Beaver have now begun to move up into the newly constructed Fahys Creek channel that was just completed the week before. We expect to see a series of beaver dams in the new channel in the future.

Tidewater Construction, under the guidance of Federal Highways Administration, continued bringing fill material this week for the raising of the Fahys Creek section of North Bank Lane. Tidewater smoothed the road edges and also installed erosion control wattles/berms along the road fill in preparation for fall and winter rains.