Rogue River Regional Master Plan and Integrated Environmental Assessment

Jackson County, Oregon

CENWP-PM-E
Issue Date: January 2, 2018
Closing Date: February 2, 2018

Interested parties are hereby notified that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District (Corps) is seeking public comments and will conduct an open house to assist the Corps’ development of a regional master plan for the Corps’ Rogue River Project, which consists of Lost Creek Lake, Applegate Dam, and the Elk Creek project. The Corps intends to integrate an Environmental Assessment (EA), prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality’s NEPA regulations (40 C.F.R. parts 1500-1508), and the Corps’ NEPA regulations (33 C.F.R. part 230), into the master plan. 

The purpose of the Rogue River Regional Master Plan is to serve as the overall strategic land use management document guiding the Corps’ comprehensive administration and development of recreational, natural, and cultural resources on project lands of the Corps’ Rogue River Project. The master plan would provide an overall land use management plan, resource objectives, and management and development concepts for the efficient and cost-effective management, development, and use of project lands for the next twenty years.

The Corps recently updated the Elk Creek master plan, but master plans for the remainder of the Rogue River Project are outdated.  A regional master plan is needed to integrate and update management and development planning for the Rogue River Project in order to guide the responsible stewardship and sustainability of project resources for the benefit of present and future generations. The Rogue River Regional Master Plan is needed to ensure the management, development, and use of project lands are aligned with national objectives, regional needs, and resource capabilities and suitabilities; protect and sustain project natural and cultural resources; and provide public recreational opportunities that are consistent with authorized project purposes.  

Public Scoping Comment Period and Open House: The Corps is seeking public comments and will conduct an open house to help determine the issues to be addressed in the master plan and integrated EA. All interested parties including individuals; organizations; local, state, and federal agencies; and tribes are invited to participate in this process. The Corps will consider public comments received or post marked by the expiration date of this public notice to help in the development of the proposed action and possible alternatives in the master plan and integrated EA. The Corps will invite additional public comments after it completes the draft master plan and integrated EA.

Areas likely to be addressed in the master plan and integrated EA include land classifications, sustainable natural resource management, cultural resources, fish and wildlife, aquatic and terrestrial invasive species management, threatened and endangered species, ecological settings, encroachments, and recreation use and facilities on Project lands within the master plan boundaries.     

Additional information is available online at: http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/plans/master-plan/.