USA: Corps Seeks Public Comment on Louisville Bend Project

A draft supplemental environmental assessment for the construction of a new channel and deep water habitat at Louisville Bend is currently available for public review.

The draft supplemental EA evaluates the environmental impacts of constructing a new water supply channel between an existing pump station and the Louisville Oxbow Lake and enhancing shallow water habitat quality by excavating 2.4 acres of deep water habitat for overwintering fish. The proposed project is located on the Louisville Bend State Wildlife Area between river miles 681.7-685.4, approximately three miles west of Blencoe in Monona County, Iowa.

This draft supplemental EA is consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, the Council on Environmental Quality’s regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR 1500-1508), the Corps’ regulations for implementing NEPA (33 CFR 325 and Engineering Regulation 200-2-2) and other applicable environmental laws and regulations.

BACKGROUND

In 1995, a multi-phase project was completed which included a channel to reconnect a historic oxbow lake with the main channel of the Missouri River, water control structures to manage

water and allow fish to move from the oxbow to the main channel, and a pumping station to provide a more reliable source of water. The overall goal of the project was to mitigate for aquatic and terrestrial habitat losses that resulted from implementation of the Missouri River Bank Stabilization and Navigation Project.

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Press Release, May 20, 2013