Beginning this week, a logging contractor will start to remove trees from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island’s Seaplane Base in an area adjacent to Regatta Drive and just north of the Olympic View Elementary School.

This tree removal effort, of about 7 acres, is in preparation for the building of a new Hand-In-Hand/Home Connection/Oak Harbor Virtual Academy facility for students within the Oak Harbor School District.

This work will take approximately three weeks and will include cutting, yarding, loading and removal of timber from the site; therefore, nearby residents should expect to hear heavy equipment activity typically used in timber removal operations.

A new gravel service road will also be constructed off Regatta Drive to support equipment and truck ingress and egress to the worksite. All work will be performed during hours 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday through Friday. No work will be scheduled or planned to be done on Saturday, Sunday, holidays or outside regular working hours unless otherwise specified or directed.

The Navy has completed an environmental review of the project and determined that no harvesting operations will be allowed from April 13 to July 31, due to time of year restrictions related to the migratory birds nesting season. All timber is required to be cut and on the ground by March 31.