Corps accepts comments for Cougar Dam fish passage Environmental Assessment

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is accepting comments on a draft environmental assessment for downstream fish passage at Cougar Dam, beginning today.

The purpose of the report is to evaluate alternatives for the Corps’ proposed enhancement of downstream fish passage at Cougar Dam. The Corps will also be holding informational public meetings to inform and listen to comments regarding the assessment.

The meeting are scheduled on the following dates:

• Thursday, March 14 from 5-7 p.m. at the McKenzie Fire & Rescue Training Facility and hosted by the McKenzie Watershed Council:

42870 McKenzie Highway, Walterville, OR 97489

• Thursday, March 21 from 6-7 p.m. at the Springfield City Hall:

225 5th St. Springfield, OR 97477

The report is available for public comments through April 10, 2019 and will be available for download on the Cougar Downstream Passage Project website at www.nwp.usace.army.mil/willamette/cougar/fish-passage.

The purpose of the Cougar Downstream Passage Project is to enhance downstream passage for populations of Upper Willamette River spring Chinook salmon listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in accordance with the National Marine Fisheries Service’s 2008 Willamette Valley Project Biological Opinion. The draft environmental assessment assesses alternatives for meeting this purpose – including the alternatives’ impacts on the physical, biological, cultural and socioeconomic environment – and presents the Corps’ preferred project alternative.

The Corps will review and consider public input before finalizing the environmental assessment at the end of 2019.