News Release
| Release Number: | 04-093 |
| Dated: | 5/17/2004 |
| Contact: | Public Affairs Office, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.-The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from the Bureau of Land Management to redirect the flow of Halfway Creek to its historical channel near Elkton, Ore.
The purpose of this project would be to restore the historic channel to allow fish passage for juvenile and adult salmonids during most flow stages. Also the roadway would be improved.
The proposed project would entail constructing a bridge to replace culverts at an existing road crossing that would require placing 600 cubic yards of material. The channel banks would be contoured and seeded with native plant life to simulate natural conditions. The current channel would be blocked and refilled at the time the historic channel would be excavated to re-route the stream.
If the permit is issued, the Corps will determine what is appropriate and practical compensatory mitigation.
As part of its permit evaluation process, the Corps is requesting public review and comment on the proposed project prior to making its permit decision.
For a copy of the Corps' Public Notice 2004-00320, which describes the proposed project in detail, please write to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-GP (Merina Christoffersen), 1600 Executive Parkway, Suite 210, Eugene OR 97401-2156 or call (541) 465-6882. A copy of the public notice, including photocopies of supporting drawings, is posted on the Corps' Internet site at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/g/notices/200400320.pdf.
Written comments must reach the Corps by May 26, 2004, and should be mailed to the above address. Send e-mail comments to Merina.E.Christoffersen@nwp01.usace.army.mil. Comments must reference the public notice number.
The Corps also is soliciting input from federal, state and local agencies and officials, Indian Tribes, and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity on endangered species, cultural resources, water quality, general environmental effects, and other public interest factors.
The Corps will evaluate the permit request under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act for discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States.
A permit will not be issued until the state has concurred with the applicant's certification that the described activity complies with Section 401 of the Clean Water Act.
Also, because the proposed project may affect an endangered or threatened species or its critical habitat, the Corps will initiate consultation with the NOAA Fisheries, under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973. A permit for the proposed activity will not be issued or denied until the consultation process is complete.
The proposed project is not located on property registered in the latest version of the National Register of Historic Places. This notice has been provided to the State Historic Preservation Office.