Apache Trail work delayed after TWRA refuses extension; survey option cited at up to $5,000

Speakers told the meeting that the Apache Trail channel and wing-wall work cannot continue in-stream during the TWRA-restricted breeding window without additional surveys. Speaker 3 said they requested an extension but recounted the agency response: “TDEC said, we don't care. It's up to TWRA... she was the one that responded with no. We don't make exceptions.”

Staff explained an alternative: hire a third-party surveyor for up to $5,000 to check for the target salamander species on Dec. 15 and, if absent, repeat the check 45 days later; only after two negative surveys could in-stream work resume, otherwise the project would be delayed further. Speaker 3 described the cost as uncertain and framed it as a gamble—paying to learn whether the species was present could still block work for additional weeks if the animal was found.

Complicating the timing, crews discovered a water line whose field-measured depth or horizontal location differed from earlier shot points, prompting a halt on some excavation and the need to relocate utilities before installing the final boxes. Parties said the water line appeared roughly 12–18 inches off from expected locations in spots, requiring coordination with utility owners and contractors and limiting what the crew could complete before the in-stream work window reopens.

What happens next: staff estimated the earliest the in-stream work could resume is May 1, after the breeding window, though some above-water tasks (sidewalks, curb work) might proceed if they don’t involve the creek. The department said it will pursue options to reduce erosion and keep the site safe while the work is paused.