[Federal Register: November 25, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 227)]
[Notices]
[Page 66082-66083]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25no03-44]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for a
Proposed Mill Creek Watershed Plan Including Potential Flood Damage
Reduction Measures and Ecosystem Restoration, Davidson County, TN
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The Corps of Engineers, Nashville District, is preparing a
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for a proposed Mill Creek
Watershed Plan that includes Flood Damage Reduction and Ecosystem
Restoration Alternatives. The Corps of Engineers is studying the
possible impacts of maintaining, modifying, or adding to existing
aquatic, riparian, and terrestrial habitat in combination with
potential flood damage reduction measures. Forecasts of future
development, floodplain management, stream habitat, endangered species
protection, stream bank stabilization, storm water management, and
water quality could be made to assess possible cumulative impacts for
each of these resources within the watershed.
DATES: Written scoping comments on issues to be considered in the DEIS
will be accepted by the Corps of Engineers until January 1, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Scoping comments should be mailed to: Ms. Joy Broach,
Biologist, Project Planning Branch, Nashville District Corps of
Engineers, PO Box 1070 (PM-P), Nashville, TN 37202-1070, or may be e-mailed to joy.i.broach@lrn02.usace.army.mil.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information concerning
the proposed action and DEIS, please contact Ms. Sue Ferguson, Project
Manager, Project Planning Branch, (615) 736-7192.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Study authority was granted by a resolution of the U.S. House
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure adopted September 14,
1995. The DEIS is necessary to provide National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) compliance for proposed changes to the water quality,
aquatic, riparian, and terrestrial habitat, and potential flood damage
reduction measures within Mill Creek and its tributaries. Historical
information regarding flooding, landuse, aquatic, and terrestrial
ecology would be used as a baseline and has been described in previous
NEPA documents including the 1986 report: Metro Region of Nashville,
Tennessee, Mill Creek, Final Interim Feasibility Report and
Environmental Impact Statement. The Nashville Metropolitan Water
Services is the sponsor for this project.
2. The Mill Creek watershed has had a history of floods dating
1979, 1984, 1998, 2000, and 2003 that have endangered residents and
have resulted in millions of dollars of flood related damage. Continued
development within the watershed, has increased the flood potential and
associated cost of damages. The intent of the DEIS is to provide NEPA
compliance for changes in hydraulics and hydrology that could occur
with implementation of any flood reduction measure. These measures
could include detention ponds, swales,
[[Page 66083]]
depressions, channel widening, levees, floodwalls, vegetative berms,
low-water dams, and dry dam storage. Structures might be raised or
removed from the floodway fringe. Computer models would be used to
predict water drainage patterns that would guide future planning in
placing structures out of the floodway fringe. The Mill Creek models
and data take a composite view of hydrology, hydraulic, and water
quality processes occurring in the watershed. This includes future
development effects, floodplain locations, erosion, storm water
management, and point and non-point sources. Models would be used to
compare different types, placement, or of combinations of flood
reduction measures to minimize damage to existing and future
structures.
3. The Mill Creek watershed is home to the state and Federally
listed Nashville Crayfish (Orconectes shoupi). This endemic crayfish
evolved in Mill Creek and is rarely found outside this watershed.
Accelerated development within the watershed has reduced and fragmented
the aquatic and riparian habitat of not only this endangered species,
but also other native aquatic and riparian communities as well. The
Mill Creek models and data would evaluate the impact of changing
hydraulics and hydrology on the aquatic ecosystem. The Mill Creek model
would be used to find stream locations where restoration and habitat
protection measures would be the most successful. Preliminary
restoration alternatives under consideration include restoration of
wetlands, aquatic, riparian, and terrestrial habitats, sediment
management structures, and bank stabilization. Land use changes could
be considered to provide a continuous stream corridor that could
include a greenway. The study aims to improve the overall health of the
stream and its corridor and protect ecologically sensitive habitat of
the endangered Nashville crayfish, while also reducing flood damage.
4. Key proposed project features to be evaluated in the DEIS
include the following:
a. Flood Damage Reduction measures including peak flow retention
structures, low-water dams, channel widening, levees, flood proofing or
removing structures out of the floodplain.
b. Protection, enhancement, expansion, or creation of aquatic,
riparian, and connected terrestrial habitat for listed species and
increased ecosystem diversity.
c. The effects of modifying the flow of Mill Creek on streamside
public, private, and commercial properties; fish spawning and nesting
areas; adjacent low lying farmlands; creek bank erosion; cultural,
archaeological, and historic sites; and overall changes to the
hydraulics and hydrology of Mill Creek.
d. Development and use of computer models that predict flooding,
identify placement of habitat structures and streambank protection
features, and forecast effects of future development on the existing
water resources within the watershed.
5. This notice serves to solicit scoping comments from the public;
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. Any comments received during the comment
period will be considered in the NEPA process. Comments are used to
assess impacts on fish and wildlife, endangered species, historic
properties, water quality, water supply and conservation, economics,
aesthetics, wetlands, flood hazards, floodplain values, land use,
navigation, shore erosion and accretion, recreation, energy needs,
safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs, considerations of
property ownership, general environmental effects, cumulative effects,
and in general, the needs and welfare of the people. Public meetings
may be held, however, times, dates, or locations have not been
determined.
6. This notice also serves to initiate the public involvement
requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act
of 1966, as amended. Section 106, implemented by regulations at 36 CFR
part 800, requires the Corps of Engineers to consider the effects of
its undertakings on historic properties. If required, appropriate
architectural and archaeological investigations will be conducted
within those areas affected by the proposed activities and resulting
findings will be coordinated with the Tennessee State Historic
Preservation Officer and other offices as necessary.
7. Other Federal, state and local approvals required for the
proposed work include coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, including a Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Report and
consultation under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act; and state
section 401 Water Quality Certification.
8. Significant issues to be analyzed in depth in the DEIS include
flood damage reduction measures and ecosystem modifications that impact
fisheries, endangered species, recreation, economics, water quality,
historic and cultural resources, stream bank erosion, future
development demands, and cumulative impacts. A DEIS should be available
in April 2005.
Byron G. Jorns,
Lieutenant Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 03-29418 Filed 11-24-03; 8:45 am]