The roller-coaster ride of whether or not to pave the road to Log House Landing hit another peak this week. The Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District, a funding partner in the project, agreed last week to ask for time to study erosion issues at the site. On Tuesday, the Scandia city council agreed to the request.

For now, nothing will happen at Log House until officials can review scientific analysis. A study should examine whether or not erosion is harming the St. Croix River and Gilbertson Creek, and if it is, what would be the best solution.

Friends of Log House Landing spokeswoman Pam Plowman Smith sent this update:

This is excellent news.  Not only will it allow time to study the extent of the erosion problem, but it will provide an opportunity to carefully observe the site and to research alternative solutions.  We have identified several promising surfaces that have the appearance of a traditional class 5 gravel road, but are far more stable.  Several of the Council members have expressed an interest in learning more about these alternatives.

Over the spring and summer months, we believe that the Watershed, the City and the community will be working together to find solutions that reduce erosion, improve water quality and better preserve this historic and ecologically sensitive road and landing.

In the meantime, the Watershed will proceed in identifying funding for the boat ramp improvements, an area that everyone agrees needs immediate attention.

Earlier this month, the city council seemed to support the idea. According to the minutes from its Feb. 4 work session, “Mayor Simonson stated that he understood the corrections to the erosion problem at Log House Landing were first addressed by the Carnelian-Marine Watershed and that he would like to see factual information on the extent of contamination from the gravel road to justify this project. He suggested the project be halted for one year to collect the data to prove whether or not a problem really exists. ”

Previously: Scandia Plans to Pave Log House Landing Road (Feb. 4, 2015)