OMAHA, Neb. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will host a public meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 6 at the Decatur City Auditorium, 913 S. Broadway St., Decatur, Neb. from 6 to 8:00 p. m. to seek comment on a proposed shallow water habitat construction project at Middle Decatur Bend in Burt County, Neb. The meeting will begin with a brief opening presentation followed by an open house session during which time the project team will be available to answer questions and gather input on the project.
Middle Decatur Bend is located south and east of Decatur, Neb. along the left-descending bank of the Missouri River between river miles 688.35 and 688.75. The proposed project, which would occur on land owned by the Corps, would create approximately 11 to 14 acres of shallow water habitat.
"The purpose of site-specific Missouri River Recovery Programs projects such as Middle Decatur Bend is to restore habitat for federally endangered pallid sturgeon and to mitigate the loss of fish and wildlife habitat that occurred due to construction of the Missouri River Bank Stabilization and Navigation Project," said Matt Vandenberg, environmental resources specialist with the Corps of Engineers.
The proposed project would contribute to achieving the number of acres necessary to comply with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2003 Amended Biological Opinion on the Operation of the Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System, Operation of the Missouri River Bank Stabilization and Navigation Project, and Operation of the Kansas River System. Compliance with the BiOp allows the Corps to continue its operations along the Missouri River System, which generate an estimated $1.8 billion in average annual benefits.
Additional project details can be found in the draft project implementation report which is currently available for public viewing at: http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Planning/EnvironmentalPlanning/DraftDocuments.aspx.
Comments on the report and project can be mailed to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District; CENWO-PM-AC; ATTN: Middle Decatur Bend PIR; 1616 Capitol Avenue; Omaha, NE 68102-4901. Comments can also be submitted at the public meeting or emailed to: cenwo-planning@usace.army.mil. Comments must be postmarked or received no later than August 19, 2014.
Release no. 20140721-001