Public invited to comment on the Sand Hill River ecosystem restoration project in Polk County, Minn.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, recently completed a draft Environmental Assessment for a proposed Sand Hill River Ecosystem Restoration Project, 20 miles southeast of Crookston, Minn.

The Corps, in partnership with the Sand Hill River Watershed District, is proposing to construct rock fill rapids to serve as a fish passage at four drop structures, or small dams, on the lower Sand Hill River. The drop structures currently prevent fish from migrating upstream. Construction of the rapids would enable fish passage for upstream migration to valuable spawning habitat.

The report can be viewed and downloaded from the St. Paul District’s website at: http://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Environment/EnvironmentalAssessments.aspx 

A public review and comment period on the draft environmental assessment begins today and will end Oct. 18. Questions and comments concerning project should be directed to Derek Ingvalson, Corps biologist, at (651) 290-5252 or at derek.s.ingvalson@usace.army.mil. Please address all correspondence on this project to the St. Paul District, Corps of Engineers, Attention: Regional Planning and Environment Division North, 180 Fifth St. E., Suite 700, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101-1678.

The nearly 700 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 Corps’ Fiscal Year 2011 $175 million budget, nearly 2,800 non-Corps jobs were added to the regional economy as well as $271 million to the national economy. For more information, see www.mvp.usace.army.mil. 

-30-