Corps of Engineers releases McGregor Lake environmental documents, will host public meeting to seek comments

ST. PAUL, Minn. –The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is hosting a public meeting in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, Dec. 11, to gather public input on its draft Feasibility Study and Environmental Assessment to improve habitat in McGregor Lake, near Prairie du Chien.

The informal meeting is from 6-8 p.m. at the Prairie du Chien City Hall, 214 E Blackhawk Ave. A short slide show will be presented at 6:30 p.m. to explain the project. Representatives from partner agencies involved in the project will also be available.

The project, which is part of the Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program, is located in Pool 10 adjacent to Prairie du Chien and Marquette, Iowa. The project consists of the improvement and/or creation of more than 380 acres of floodplain forest and aquatic habitat throughout the approximately 1,063-acres project area.

The draft report is available on the St. Paul District website at: https://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/Home/PN/Article/1701509/mcgregor-lake-habitat-improvement-project/. The public review and comment period ends Dec. 31. Questions and comments concerning the project should be directed to Shahin Khazrajafari, Corps project manager, at 651-290-5219 or Shahin.Khazrajafari@usace.army.mil.  

This project requires a review of environmental effects under the National Environmental Policy Act. A copy of the draft Environmental Assessment with a finding of no significant impact was coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state resource agencies prior to posting the public notice. A final determination on the draft Environmental Assessment will be made following the 30-day public review period. 

The nearly 650 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, employees working at more than 40 sites in five upper-Midwest states serve the American public in the areas of environmental enhancement, navigation, flood damage reduction, water and wetlands regulation, recreation sites and disaster response. Through the St. Paul District Fiscal Year 2018 $106 million budget, nearly 1,700 non-Corps jobs were added to the regional economy as well as $163 million to the national economy. For more information, see www.mvp.usace.army.mil.

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