OMAHA, Neb. - A draft environmental assessment for a proposed fish population rehabilitation project at Lake Yankton is currently available for public review. The draft EA evaluates the environmental impacts of treating the lake with the chemical toxicant rotenone and subsequent restocking of desirable game species.
Lake Yankton, a shallow 305 acre lake located approximately 5 miles west of Yankton, South Dakota, has historically been a popular recreational fishery dominated by largemouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, and bluegill. In recent years the lake has become dominated by “rough” fish species including Asian carp that are considered detrimental to the recreational fishery. The goal of the proposed project is to re-establish the recreational fishery by allowing for the establishment of a desirable game fish population.
The proposed activities outlined in the draft EA include (1) temporarily drawing down lake-levels approximately 4 feet (2) temporarily stopping outflow from Lake Yankton to the Missouri River, (3) treating the lake with rotenone to remove the current undesirable fish population, and (4) renovating the fish population by restocking with desirable fish species. The recreation area and campgrounds will not be closed during the project; however, the lake will be closed during chemical application to last approximately one day. The lake will re-open the day after chemical application. It is currently anticipated the project would take place the week of September 8.
This draft EA is consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the Council on Environmental Quality’s regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR 1500-1508), the Corps’ regulations for implementing NEPA (33 CFR 325 and Engineering Regulation 200-2-2) and other applicable environmental laws and regulations.
The public is encouraged to provide comments on the draft environmental assessment, which is available for viewing at: http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Planning/EnvironmentalPlanning/DraftDocuments.aspx. Comments can be mailed to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District; CENWO-PM-AC; ATTN: Lake Yankton EA; 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 September 2, 2014.
Release no. 2014-08-05