Project Proponent.

  St. Paul District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 332 Minnesota Street, Suite E1500, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101.

Project Authority.

  The Corps is responsible for maintaining a nine-foot navigable channel on the Mississippi River (Nine-Foot Navigation Channel Project). The authority for the proposed work is provided in the River and Harbor Acts of 1930 and 1935. Original authority for the Corps to work on the Mississippi River was provided in the River and Harbor Act of 1878.

Project Location.

  The proposed action would be located at Lock and Dam 5 in Winona County, Minnesota.

Summary of the Proposed Project.

  The proposed action is to remove Lower Guidewall-15 and construct an end cell at the end of Lower Guidewall-14 (LG-14) at Lock and Dam 5. The end of LG-14 would be modified with a triangular extension to provide a smooth transition between the end of the wall and the end cell. The end cell structure is needed to provide adequate protection to the end of the lower guide wall, while reducing operability issues and required maintenance of the lower guide wall, ultimately extending its longevity.

Figure 1: End Cell Plans

Construction Schedule.

  Construction is expected to occur in 2027 or beyond and last a single construction season.

Permits/Coordination.

General.

  The proposed actions have been coordinated with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Federal.

  Drafts of the Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact were prepared and will be coordinated in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. Coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service occurred during the planning process. Section 404 of the Clean Water Act regulates the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States. The Corps does not issue permits to itself but complies with the provisions of the Act. The activities associated with the end cell construction along the lower guidewall at Lock and Dam 5 would not require an individual Section 404(b)(1) analysis. The end cell construction is covered under Nationwide Permit (NWP) 3 - Maintenance, which authorizes the repair, rehabilitation, or replacement of any previously authorized, currently serviceable structure or fill, or of any currently serviceable structure or fill authorized by 33 CFR 330.3.

Summary of Environmental Impacts.

  The proposed project would have temporary minor adverse effects on noise levels, aesthetics, air quality, water quality, terrestrial habitat, and aquatic habitat. The project would have minor beneficial effects on commercial navigation. The project would have no adverse impacts on federally threatened and endangered species. USACE determined that the project would have No Adverse Effect on Historic Properties, and the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office concurred on August 29, 2025. 

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.

Review and Comment.

  Comments on the Environmental Assessment 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.