Corps publishes final EA for wetland restoration project near Fargo, N.D.

ST. PAUL, Minn. –The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, published its final Environmental Assessment, or EA, for the Drain 27 Wetland Restoration Project Sept. 22. A Finding of No Significant Impact, also known as a FONSI, was approved Sept. 14.

The project will restore 320 acres of farmland to wetland and upland prairie near Fargo, North Dakota. An earthen weir will be constructed across Drain 27 to pond water for the wetland. The project will mitigate unavoidable wetland impacts from the construction of the southern embankment and associated infrastructure portions of the Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Area Flood Risk Management Project. This includes the Red River Structure, the Wild Rice River Structure, the Diversion Inlet Structure and the Interstate Highway 29 road raise.

Comments received on the project during the public comment period were evaluated and minor changes to the draft document were made, as appropriate. Comments are included in Appendix A to the final EA. The document is available to the public and can be viewed and downloaded at: https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16021coll7/id/15536/rec/1. Questions on the project or EA should be directed to Derek Ingvalson at (651) 290-5252 or at Derek.S.Ingvalson@usace.army.mil.

– 30 –