News Release
| Release Number: | 04-212 |
| Dated: | 11/24/2004 |
| Contact: | Diana J. Fredlund, 503-808-4510 |
PORTLAND, Ore.-The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from Lane County Public Works to fill about an acre of Dexter Reservoir located just south of Lowell, Ore.
The purpose of the project would be to enlarge an existing parking lot, improve pedestrian access to the old Lowell covered bride and install a floating fishing dock.
The project would place about 0.88 acre of graded rock riprap onto the bed of the reservoir to about two feet above the ordinary high water mark, the rock would be covered with stone embankment material and finished with asphalt. Three pedestrian spans would be constructed on the north end to connect the bridge and the parking lot and one on the south end. Concrete-filled steel piling bents would be constructed and placed to support the spans. Existing timber piles also would be removed.
The applicant has proposed installing riparian vegetation along the bankline and is exploring other mitigation opportunities. If the permit is issued, the Corps will determine what is appropriate and practicable compensatory mitigation.
For a copy of the Corps' Public Notice 2004-00732, which describes the proposed project in detail, please write to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-GP (Michele Hanson), 1600 Executive Parkway, Suite 210, Eugene, OR 97401-2156 or call (541) 465-6878. 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/200400732.pdf.
Written comments must reach the Corps by Dec. 9, 2004, and should be mailed to the above address. Send e-mail comments to michele.e.hanson@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 (SHPO).
An initial evaluation of the proposed project area indicates that an eligible historic property exists within the area. Consultation with SHPO and other interested parties, under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act will be initiated. The permit will not be issued until the consultation process is complete.