[Federal Register: May 19, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 96)]
[Notices]
[Page 28923-28924]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19my05-55]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the
Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Portion of the Kissimmee River Restoration
Project
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for
the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes (KCOL) portion of the Kissimmee River
Restoration (KRR) project. This project involves the establishment of a
coordinated schedule of water level drawdowns throughout the seventeen
lakes comprising the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes (KCOL), for the ultimate
purpose of facilitating environmental restoration throughout those
water bodies. The local sponsor is the South Florida Water Management
District.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Esteban Jimenez, 904-232-2115,
Special Projects Section, Environmental Branch, Planning Division, P.O.
Box 4970, Jacksonville, FL 32232-0019.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The authority to conduct this comprehensive
analysis is granted under Section 206 of the 1996 Water Resources
Development Act. The Kissimmee River Basin flood control works were
authorized by the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1954 as an addition to the
Central & South Florida Flood Control Project. The primary project
purposes are restoration of natural flooding in the historic floodplain
in order to reestablish wetland conditions while maintaining the
existing protection against flood damages within the Kissimmee Basin,
and to improve the environmental setting of the KCOL area.
The proposed action on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes includes: Lake
Hart, Lake Mary Jane, East Lake Tohopekaliga, Lake Myrtle, Lake
Preston, Lake Conlin, Lake Tohopekaliga, Lake Gentry, Lake Russell,
Cypress Lake, Lake Marion, Lake Hatchinehea, Lake Pierce, Lake Rosalie,
Tiger Lake, Lake Jackson, Lake Marian, and Lake Weohykapka. The lakes
are all located in the Upper Kissimmee River Upper Basin (KRUB), and
covers both Osceola and Polk Counties in Florida.
The objective of the study is to evaluate the possibility of
implementing revised regulation schedules for the Upper Kissimmee Chain
of Lakes. This is so that common and coordinated regulation schedules
can be enacted for the Chain of Lakes, in order to facilitate ecosystem
restoration.
Flora and Fauna--The 35,000 acres of wetlands that existed in the
Kissimmee River Flood Plain prior to canalization are estimated to have
declined to about 14,000 acres in the existing condition. Existing
conditions of flora and fauna in the KB are addressed below.
Total Existing Acreages of Wetland Habitats in the Kissimmee River Flood
Plain
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Type Total Percent
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Wetland Forested:
Cypress......................................... 262 1.9
Wetland Prairie:
Rhynchospora.................................... 1005 7.2
Aquatic Grass................................... 2359 16.8
Maidencane...................................... 2743 19.5
Wetland Shrub:
Buttonbrush..................................... 803 5.7
Primrose Willow................................. 693 4.9
Willow.......................................... 1639 11.7
Broadleaf....................................... 3447 24.4
Switchgrass..................................... 471 3.4
Tussock......................................... 630 4.5
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Total......................................... 14052 100
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The lakes are generally surrounded by pine flatwoods, dry and wet
prairies, and cypress domes.
Wildlife in the Kissimmee River Lower Basin (KRLB) consists of
deer, small mammals, alligators and small reptiles, amphibians,
invertebrates, wading birds, and ducks. Because of the large expanse of
area involved, the following Federally-listed threatened or endangered
species could occur in both the KRUB and KRLB: Bald eagle, snail
[[Page 28924]]
kite, indigo snake, Audubon's crested caracara, wood stork, and
grasshopper sparrow.
Endangered and threatened species in the KB include:
--Endangered: Bald eagle, snail kite, wood stork, whooping crane, and
Audubon's crested caracara, and Florida grasshopper sparrow.
--Threatened: Indigo snake.
--State listed as threatened species: Sandhill crane.
--Species of special concern: American alligator, snowy egret, gopher
tortoise, osprey, burrowing owl, limpkin, little blue heron, least
tern, and tricolored heron.
Fluctuating water levels of the lake littoral zones are important
for over wintering waterfowl that utilize these lakes during
migrational periods. Wading birds use the littoral zone as an important
feeding habitat.
Alternatives: The various scheduling alternatives will be developed
upon modeling based on the determination of the existing environment
and the goals to be attained. The no action alternative will be
considered.
Issues: The proposed action is to modify the regulation schedules
for the Upper Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, to include periodic extreme low
water stages for the purposes of enhancing the lake's environmental
resources and improving the physical and chemical characteristics of
these lakes. This habitat enhancement technique involves lowering lakes
to consolidate bottom sediments and expand desirable aquatic plant
communities. The extreme drawdown of these areas mimic low water
conditions prior to flood control (activities which result in more
stable water levels than would occur naturally). Low water levels
historically occurred about every seven to ten years. The drawdown will
be coordinated with the South Florida Water Management District
(SFWMD).
Habitat enhancement activities would be carried out by the Florida
Fish and Wildlife Conservation commission (FWC) or other acting under
it. The FWC would obtain all necessary permits.
Enhancement activities may include muck removal, burning, discing
and herbicide application to reduce dense vegetation, tussock formation
and organic build-up on lake bottoms.
Scoping: Scoping public and agency comments on this work will begin
June 2005 by means of a scoping letter. In addition, all parties are
invited to participate in the scoping process by identifying any
addition concerns on issues, studies needed, alternatives, procedures,
and other matters related to the scoping process. At this time, there
are no plans for a public scoping meeting.
Public Involvement: We invite the participation of affected
Federal, state, and local agencies, affected Indian tribes, and other
interested private organizations and parties.
Coordination: The proposed action is being coordinated with the
Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) under Section 7 of the Endangered
Species Act, and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, and with the
State Historic preservation Officer.
Other Environmental Review and Consultation: The proposed action
would involve evaluation for compliance with guidelines pursuant to
section 404(b) of the Clean Water Act; application to the State of
Florida for Water Quality Certification pursuant to section 401 of the
Clean Water Act; and certification of state islands, easements, and
rights of way.
Agency Role: As non-Federal sponsor and leading local expert; the
South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) will provide extensive
information and assistance on the resources to be impacted, mitigation
measures, and alternatives.
DEIS Preparation: It is estimated that the DEIS will be available
to the public on or about November 2006.
Dated: May 10, 2005.
Dennis W. Barnett,
Acting Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 05-9996 Filed 5-18-05; 8:45 am]