1. Project Proponent. St. Paul District, Corps of Engineers, 332 Minnesota Street, Suite E1500, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101.
2. Project Authority. The proposed actions were authorized under the authority of the Rivers and Harbors Act (RHA) of 1824 as amended.
3. Project Location. The proposed actions would be located in Lake Pepin on the border of Pierce County WI and Goodhue County, MN.
4. Summary of the Proposed Project. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposes establishing a new routine dredge cut, “Below Goose Bay” (river miles 785.5-786.5), on the Upper Mississippi River for navigation channel maintenance. This proactive approach aims to maintain a 9-foot channel depth and minimize the need for emergency dredging. Dredged material will primarily be placed at approved sites, with contingency plans for temporary or in-water placement, if necessary, all in accordance with established guidelines. The frequency of dredging will be adaptive based on river conditions.
5. Construction Schedule. The first instance of dredging this cut is tentatively scheduled to be in summer 2025.
6. Permits/Coordination.
a. General. The proposed action has been coordinated with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin State Historic Preservation Office.
d. Federal. A Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact was prepared and coordinated in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. Coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service occurred during the planning process.
7. Summary of Environmental Impacts. The proposed dredging project, establishing the “Below Goose Bay” cut between river miles 785.5 and 786.5, maintains the 9-foot navigation channel on the Upper Mississippi River. This project would have no adverse effect on historic properties and no effect on federally or state-listed threatened or endangered species nor would it jeopardize species which are proposed for federal listing. Compared to continuing operations without this project, the Proposed Alternative would benefit navigation by allowing for scheduled dredging, reducing the risk of emergency closures and improving commercial traffic flow. This proactive approach would also enhance safety by lowering the potential for vessel groundings and associated hazards. Environmentally, the project would result in a slight improvement in aesthetics due to a reduced likelihood of in-water placement of dredged material and minimize disruptions by decreasing the need for temporary navigation closures impacting recreational opportunities. While dredging would temporarily displace fish, they are expected to quickly return to the area. Effects to aquatic and terrestrial habitats would be similar to existing dredging practices, with a slight benefit from increased use of approved dredge material placement sites. No measurable impact to invasive species or floodplains is anticipated.
8. Report. A Draft Environmental Assessment that describes the project and the environmental impacts in detail is available to the public and can be viewed at https://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/Home/Public-Notices/ . The report includes project drawings, a Draft Finding of No Significant Impact, and letters of coordination from regulatory agencies.
9. Review and Comment. If you have any comments on the environmental assessment they should be provided before the expiration date of this notice. Persons submitting comments are advised that all comments received will be available for public review, to include the possibility of posting on a public website. Questions on the project or comments on the Environmental Assessment can be directed to CEMVP_Planning@usace.army.mil. Please address all formal written correspondence on this project to District Engineer, St. Paul District, Corps of Engineers, ATTN: Regional Planning and Environment Division North, 332 Minnesota Street, Suite E1500, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101.