Steigerwald Habitat Restoration and Flood Control Project (DOE/EA-2027)

Clark County, Washington

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) proposes to fund the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership’s proposal to restore floodplain connectivity to the Columbia River within the Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) in Clark County, WA. The Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The project would help improve water quality and habitat to benefit steelhead and cutthroat trout; Chinook, coho, and chum salmon; and Pacific and western brook lamprey. The project would involve reconnecting Gibbons Creek to the Columbia River by breaching a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ levee; removing a diversion structure, fish ladder, elevated channel, and water control structure; raising Washington State Highway 14; constructing a setback levee; enhancing approximately two miles of wetland channels; and re-establishing the site’s riparian forest.

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW

To understand the potential environmental impacts of this proposal, BPA prepared an environmental assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act to analyze the potential impacts of the project and identify ways to reduce those impacts. The final EA describes anticipated impacts to natural and human resources and includes mitigation measures that would help avoid or minimize these potential impacts. During this process, BPA has worked with Federal, state, and local agencies; tribes; landowners; and interest groups. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are participating as cooperating agencies on the EA. The draft EA was released for public review and comment on January 26, 2018; comments were received on the draft EA from 10 entities. The final EA and FONSI was signed on January 22, 2019.

The schedule for the environmental review was as follows: BPA released its final EA and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The FONSI includes a Mitigation Action Plan to help avoid or lessen potential impacts.

Scoping comment period         December 28, 2015 - January 27, 2016
Scoping public meeting January 14, 2016 in Washougal, WA
Draft EA available for public comment January 26, 2018 - February 26, 2018
Final EA January 22, 2019
Finding of No Significant Impact (if warranted) January 22, 2019
If decision to build, construction start April 1, 2019


CURRENT STATUS

BPA released its final EA and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The FONSI includes a Mitigation Action Plan to help avoid or lessen potential impacts.

CONTACT

For environmental information, contact:
Carolyn Sharp        Toll-free: 800-622-4519
Environmental Protection Specialist Direct Line: 503-230-5206
Bonneville Power Administration - ECF-4 Email: casharp@bpa.gov 
P.O. Box 3621
Portland, OR 97208-3621

For project information contact:
Jason Karnezis        Toll-free: 800-622-4519
Project Manager        Direct Line: 503-230-3098
Bonneville Power Administration - EWL-4 Email: jpkarnezis@bpa.gov 
P.O. Box 3621
Portland, OR 97208-3621

DOCUMENTS

SUPPLEMENT ANALYSIS
SA-01  (02/24/2020)

FINAL EA & FONSI
Final EA  (01/22/2019)
FONSI  (01/22/2019)
Errata Sheet  (02/27/2019)
Public Letter  (02/11/2019)

DRAFT EA
Draft EA comments received
Existing Site Conditions/Proposed Restoration Activities  (2/13/2018)
Draft EA  (1/26/2018)
Public letter  (1/26/2018)
Comment Form  (1/26/2018)

SCOPING
Scoping comments received
Public Letter  (12/28/2015)
Project Map  (12/07/2015)
Comment Form  (12/28/2015)