PORTLAND, Ore. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation, is seeking public comment on the draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) and draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the long-term release of an additional 1,000 acre-feet (AF) of stored water for irrigation from the Willow Creek Dam and Lake Project.
The Willow Creek Project is authorized to store and release up to 3,500 AF of water for irrigation purposes. The existing Environmental Assessment (March 2008) evaluated the baseline irrigation release of 2,500 AF. The Willow Creek District Improvement Company, which has relied on groundwater for a portion of its irrigation needs, is seeking a more reliable, long-term, annual source of irrigation water. Water released from storage is considered to be more reliable than groundwater sources.
In addition to irrigation, the Corps operates the Willow Creek Project for flood risk management and provides benefits for recreation, sportfishing and wildlife.
View the complete public notice, SEA and FONSI at www.nwp.usace.army.mil/notices/permit-application/Article/1456991/.
All interested parties are invited to submit comments regarding the draft SEA and draft FONSI to the Corps through April 2, 2018.
Questions or comments may be sent via email to willow-creek@usace.army.mil, or mailed to the address below:
District Environmental Specialist
U.S. Army Corps of Engineer District, Portland
Attn: CENWP-PM-EE/Robert Waldman
Portland, Oregon 97208-2946
Please note that the comment period is 30 calendar days and closes on April 2, 2018. Mailed comments on this notice must be postmarked by that date.
All comments received will become part of the administrative record and are subject to public release under the Freedom of Information Act, including any personally identifiable information such as name, phone numbers and addresses.