News Release
| Release Number: | 04-129 |
| Dated: | 7/6/2004 |
| Contact: | Matt Rabe, 503-808-4510 |
Fence would keep cows out of creek, improve environment
Portland, Ore. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public comments on a proposal to construct a four-mile-long fence along Rock Creek in Klickitat County, Wash.
The Corps says the fence is needed to restrict cattle access to the creek and improve water quality and environmental conditions, and protect cultural resources in the area.
The Corps' draft environmental assessment, addressing the environmental effects of the proposed action, is now available for public review. To comment on, or to receive a copy of, this EA, write to: District Engineer, U.S. Army Engineer District - Portland, Attn: CENWP-PM-E (Stengle), P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946. A copy is available on the Internet at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/pm/e/. Written comments should be mailed no later than July 30, 2004. Please refer to Corps ID number CENWP-PM-E-04-06 in any correspondence.
The four-strand barbed wire fence would be constructed along the currently unmarked boundary of Corps-managed property. The adjacent property is privately owned and primarily used for cattle ranching. The lack of a fence has allowed cattle to trespass on the property to the detriment of natural and cultural resources.
Wildlife in the area includes mule deer, coyotes, skunks, rabbits and riparian species such as beaver, muskrat, mink and raccoon. Birds include raptors, passerines, California quail, crows, magpies, ravens, gulls, terns and waterfowl. Fish species include bull trout, bass, northern pikeminnow, rainbow trout, steelhead and Chinook salmon.
Environmental impacts are expected to be positive. The boundary fence will reduce or eliminate cattle trespassing, thus reducing bank trampling and erosion.
The proposal is being coordinate with the Washington State Historic Preservation Office. The Corps consulted the Clean Water Act of 1977, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 as amended, the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, and cultural resources acts, as well as several other applicable laws and policies in developing the environmental assessment.