Missouri River Water Management News

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Public meeting scheduled for proposed Missouri River Emergent Sandbar Habitat project

Published Jan. 8, 2018

OMAHA, Neb. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 17, at the Ramada Bismarck Hotel (West Heritage Room), 1400 E. Interchange Ave. in Bismarck, North Dakota, to gather input on site selection for an Emergent Sandbar Habitat (ESH) Project within the Missouri River between Garrison and Oahe dams in North Dakota. 

The meeting will run from 6 to 8 p.m. with a brief opening presentation followed by an open house session. During the open house, the Corps project team will be available at information stations to answer questions and gather public input. Concerns, comments and suggestions provided at this meeting will help the Corps determine which of three potential sites may be chosen for the project. 

The proposed project includes mechanical construction of sandbar habitat, up to 40 acres in size, at one of three existing sandbar habitat sites between river miles 1349 and 1367 (near Washburn, North Dakota). Material would be borrowed from the river bed and placed on top of the existing shallow submerged sandbar. This minimizes the amount of material that needs to be moved and increases longevity of the constructed sandbar. 

Input may be submitted during the public meeting or mailed to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District; ATTN: CENWO-PMA-C (Michelle McPherron), 1616 Capitol Avenue, Omaha, NE 68102-4901. Comments can also be emailed to: cenwo-planning@usace.army.mil. Comments must be postmarked or received no later than Feb. 16, 2018. 

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the ESH Program is to maintain suitable habitat for the federally endangered interior least tern and threatened piping plover. The ESH Program integrates actions in accordance with the Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives established in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2000 and 2003 Amended Biological Opinions on the Operation and Maintenance of the Missouri River Bank Stabilization and Navigation Project.


Contact
Omaha District Public Affairs
402-995-2417

Release no. 18-001