16-003 Corps of Engineers completes Mill Creek Master Plan

Published Feb. 3, 2016
WALLA WALLA, Wash. – The Walla Walla District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has completed a revision of the Mill Creek Master Plan for the Mill Creek Dam and Bennington Lake civil works project, district officials announced today.



The master plan is the strategic land-use management document that guides the comprehensive management and development of all Mill Creek Project recreational, natural and cultural resources throughout the life of the Project. Development of the revised master plan included consideration of regional and ecosystem needs, as well as public interests and desires.



Public scoping for the draft master plan was conducted March 30 to April 30, 2015, and included a public information meeting on March 31. The public comment period for the draft master plan, draft Finding of No Significant Impact and Environmental Assessment was Sept. 25-Oct. 25, 2015. Public input received during scoping and draft-review was considered during master plan revision process.



Mill Creek’s master plan was last updated in 1993, and a lot has changed since then:

- Visitation has dramatically increased – we have about 100,000 more visits annually than in 1993.

- Our visitors have brought new modes of recreation to our trails, park and lake, such as: long-boarding, geo-caching and paddleboarding.

- There are new invasive and ESA-listed species to be considered as we manage our lands and waters.



“The most noticeable content revisions to the Mill Creek Master Plan emerged in land use classifications. We consolidated two of the habitat management units to streamline operations,” said Ben Swaner, project manager for developing the master plan. “The revised plan’s written format and style was also changed to align with new Corps guidance regarding master plan development. It now allows for greater flexibility to more quickly adapt to unforeseen needs via a formal process.”



“We received some very thoughtful comments from the public during the scoping and review periods,” Swaner noted. “Public involvement really helped us achieve a balance of land-use classifications which will continue to afford many different types of visitor use at Mill Creek Dam and Bennington Lake.”



The revised master plan will guide the use, development and management of Mill Creek lands in a manner that optimizes public benefits within resource potentials and the authorized function of the project while remaining consistent with Corps policies, regulations and environmental operating principals.



A “Summary of Recommendations” is available in Section 8 of the revised Mill Creek Master Plan. The master plan can be viewed or downloaded from the district’s website at http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/Missions/Projects/MillCreekMP.aspx.

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Contact
Public Affairs Office
509-527-7020
cenww-pa@usace.army.mil

Release no. 16-003