Project Proponent.
St. Paul District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 332 Minnesota Street, Suite E1500, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101.
Project Authority.
The proposed actions are authorized under Section 8004(a) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-114, 33 USC 652 statutory note).
Project Location.
The proposed actions would be located in Pool 6 of the Upper Mississippi River, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin
Summary of the Proposed Project.
The proposed project will address degraded backwater habitat between Upper Mississippi river miles 716–718 in Pool 6. The quantity and quality of backwater habitat, including both deep and shallow lentic areas, have degraded due to sedimentation and loss of hydrologic complexity. The Tentatively Selected Plan, shown in Figure 2, would restore approximately 66 acres of degraded backwater and floodplain forest habitat. Restoration efforts would include dredging to remove accumulated sediment, reduce water flow velocities and erosion, and improve the quality of overwintering habitat for fish.
The proposed project would involve activities involving fill to Waters of the U.S. These activities include habitat dredging, access dredging, adding topographic diversity, a partial closing structure, river training structure modifications, marsh dredging, and shoreline protection. Temporary fill would result from construction pads.
Construction Schedule.
Construction of the proposed actions is scheduled to be carried out across two construction seasons (April through November) followed by one year of vegetation plantings, beginning in 2028, depending on available funding.
Permits/Coordination.
General.
The proposed action has been coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and Wisconsin State Historic Preservation Office.
State.
The filling for the proposed project is subject to regulation by the State of Wisconsin in accordance with Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. A request for Water Quality Certification was made to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
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. A Section 404(b)(1) evaluation was prepared in accordance with the Clean Water Act of 1977.
Summary of Environmental Impacts.
The proposed project would result in long-term improvements to 66 acres of backwater and floodplain forest, improved hydrology, and enhanced ecological function. Short-term adverse effects to water quality, biological productivity and air quality would result during construction. A Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact was prepared and coordinated in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.
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.
Public Hearing Requests.
The Section 404(b)(1) evaluation is being distributed as part of this environmental assessment. Anyone may request a public hearing on this project. The request must be submitted in writing to the District Engineer within 15 working days of the date of this Public Notice. Interested parties are also invited to submit to this office written facts, arguments, or objections to this project prior to the expiration date of this Public Notice. These statements should clearly state the interest the project would affect and how the project would affect that interest. A request for public hearing may be denied if substantive reasons for holding a hearing are not provided or there is otherwise no valid interest to be served. All statements will become an official part of the project file and will be available for public examination.
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, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: Regional Planning and Environment Division North, 332 Minnesota Street, Suite E1500, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101.