OMAHA, NE – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public comments on the draft Yellowstone River Cumulative Effects Assessment Report. The draft report presents results of analysis conducted as part of the Yellowstone River Corridor Study on the cumulative hydrologic, biological and socioeconomic impacts of human activity on the Yellowstone River.
Since the 1990s, the Yellowstone River Corridor has experienced damaging floods and increased development pressures. In 2004, the Yellowstone River Conservation District Council entered into a cost-sharing agreement with the Omaha District to study those cumulative impacts in order to provide a scientific basis for developing recommended management practices along the river. The Yellowstone River Corridor Study, which included participation from multiple federal, state and local agencies as well as non-profit organizations and businesses, focuses on 12 counties along the main stem river corridor from Yellowstone National Park to the confluence with the Missouri River in North Dakota.
The public is encouraged to provide comments on the draft report during the open comment period from October 7 - November 6, 2015. There will be three public meetings starting at 7 p.m. at the following locations:
- October 13 - Sweet Grass County High School Cafeteria, 501 West Fourth Avenue, Big Timber, MT
- October 14 - Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative Community Room, 150 Cooperative Way, Huntley, MT (Junction of I-94 and Huntley Exit on south side of the Interstate)
- October 15 - Glendive Alliance Church Community Room, 105 Highland Park Road, Glendive, MT (Junction of I-94 and Highway 16, one quarter mile north of the Interstate)
A presentation will occur at 7:00 p.m. followed by a formal comment period.
The draft report is available for viewing on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ website at: http://cdm16021.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16021coll7/id/2351 or on the Yellowstone River Conservation District Council’s website at: http://yellowstonerivercouncil.org/resources.php. Hardcopies will be available at the following libraries: Livingston Public Library (Livingston, Mont.); Carnegie Public Library (Big Timber, Mont.); Stillwater County Library (Columbus, Mont.); Billings Public Library (Billings, Mont.); Rosebud County Library (Forsyth, Mont.); Custer County Library (Miles City, Mont.); Prairie County Library (Terry, Mont.); Glendive Public Library (Glendive, Mont.); Sydney Public Library (Sydney, Mont.); and McKenzie County Library (Waterford City, N.D.).
Hardcopies will also be available at the following County Conservation District Offices: Park County (Livingston, Mont.); Sweet Grass County (Big Timber, Mont.); Stillwater County (Columbus, Mont.); Yellowstone County (Billings, Mont.); Treasure County (Hysham, Mont.); Rosebud County (Forsyth, Mont.); Custer County (Miles City, Mont.); Prairie County (Terry, Mont.); Dawson County (Glendive, Mont.); Richland County (Sidney, Mont.); and McKenzie County (Waterford City, N.D.).
The public may submit comments via comment forms available at the public meetings. Written comments should be sent to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Omaha District ATTN: CENWO-PM-AA, Yellowstone Corridor Study CEA; 1616 Capitol Avenue; Omaha, NE 68102. Comments can also be emailed to: cenwo-planning@usace.army.mil. Comments must be postmarked or received no later than November 6, 2015.