News Release
| Release Number: | 01-039 |
| Dated: | 4/4/2001 |
| Contact: | Heidi Y. Helwig, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.--The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from Clackamas County, Ore., to perform work in the county's Foster Creek from Bakers Ferry Road (mile 0.25) to near Carver (mile 1.35). The county is seeking authority to replace an existing culvert with a much larger one to restore fish passage in Foster Creek.
The existing culvert in Foster Creek is 96 inches in diameter and is made of corrugated metal pipe. The county is proposing to replace that with a 75-foot-long by 36-foot-wide by 20-foot-tall open bottom concrete culvert with retaining walls. As part of its permit evaluation process, the Corps is requesting public review and comment on the proposed project prior to making its permitting decision for the work.
Before the county could actually replace the culvert, it would need to construct a temporary haul road, which would include the excavation of 280 cubic yards of material and the placement of 420 cubic yards of material in an upland area. In addition, 31 cubic feet of rock currently located in gabions just downstream of the culvert would be released from the gabions and placed within 5 feet of the existing gabions. (A gabion is a basket or cage of rocks used as an abutment.) It is expected that the rocks would be naturally transported in the stream over time. No equipment is expected to work in the creek.
For a copy of the Corps' Public Notice 2001-00211, which describes the proposed project in detail, please write to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-GP, P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946. A copy of the public notice is posted on the Corps' Internet site at http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/g/notices/200100211.pdf. Photocopies of drawings supporting the proposed project are included in the public notice.
Written comments must reach the Corps by April 19, 2001, and should be mailed to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Attn: CENWP-OP-GP (William Davis), P.O. Box 2946, Portland, Ore., 97208-2946. Send e-mail comments to william.r.davis@usace.army.mil.
The Corps also is soliciting input from federal, state and local agencies and officials, Indian tribes, and other interested parties to help permit reviewers consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed project on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and other public interest factors.
The Corps will issue or deny the permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. A Water Quality Certification, as required under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, also will be needed from the State. Also, because the proposed work may affect an endangered or threatened species or its critical habitat, the Corps has entered into consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service. A permit will not be issued or denied until the consultation process is completed.