U.S. Department of Defense
Date of this Version
1994
Abstract
An environmental assessment has been prepared for new habitat development in upper Lewis and Clark Lake and the Missouri River below Gavins Point Dam. The actions described are in response to the November 1990, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Opinion on the operation of the Missouri River Main Stem System, and will provide safer nesting habitat for the interior least tern (endangered species) and the piping plover (threatened species).
Vegetation on the river islands will be removed and maintained in the "sparsely vegetated" state needed for nesting habitat for the terns and plovers. After vegetation removal, the islands will be "capped" with up to two feet of local sand. In addition, 10 new islands will be constructed by dredging in the upper end of Lewis and Clark Lake.
The adverse impacts of these actions are all temporary and localized, consisting of minor noise and exhaust from bulldozers and dredging equipment during the construction period. Equipment operators will be briefed on potential archeological sites (steamboat wrecks) in the river, and written guidance will be provided to them. If potential wrecks are found, work will cease on that site until surveyed and cleared by an archeologist.
Factors that were considered in making this decision included but were not
necessarily limited to conservation, economics, esthetics, general environmental concerns, historic values, fish and wildlife values, flood damage prevention, land use, air and water quality, energy needs, safety, food production, and in general the needs and welfare of the people.
It is my finding that the Federal action would not have significant adverse impacts on the quality of the human environment, and therefore an environmental impact statement will not be prepared.
Comments
Published by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (1994) 1-72