Organization
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, Environmental Program
Comment 1
The USACE has identified long-term dredging activities adjacent to state parks located on the Snake and Columbia Rivers on plates 5, 11, 13, and 17 of the DEIS. However, dredging specifications are vague in regards to existing facilities at each respective site. Although the DEIS states each alternative's ability to maintain use of existing recreational facilities, State Parks is unsure whether dredging activity at respective parks includes areas necessary to maintain existing recreation.
Response
The Corps has not completed soundings specifically for Washington State Parks’ facilities in the study area. The Corps can accommodate non-Federal dredging on a cost-reimbursable basis, such as that requested by Washington State Parks, and will coordinate with Washington State Parks as the DMMP is implemented. The only recreational facilities that would be dredged in the short term are described in Section 2.8 of the DMMP/EIS.

Organization
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, Environmental Program
Comment 2
Plate 5, Sacajawea State Park: It is difficult to ascertain whether dredging activity will include the existing boat basin, boat moorage area, and the area from the boat basin to confluence with the Columbia River. Dredging of these areas is necessary to maintain recreational use of the Sacajawea State Park water access site.
Response
Plates 2-17 have been updated to better illustrate potential dredging locations. The maps do not necessarily show all of the locations that may be dredged as some areas may not be identified until sometime in the future. The boundaries of the potential dredging locations are not to scale and do not reflect exactly what area may be considered for dredging in the future.

Also see response to comment 1.

Organization
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, Environmental Program
Comment 3
Plate 13, Central Ferry State Park: Has the Corps considered access to the Central Ferry State Park Boat Basin?
Response
See response to comment 1.

Organization
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, Environmental Program
Comment 4
Plate 17, Chief Timothy State Park: The water access facilities for the park are located at the west end of Silcott Island. However, there is no dredging location identified west of the island. In order to assure recreational access to Chief Timothy State Park, the west end of the island should be dredged.
Response
See response to comment 1. The Corps can incorporate non-Federal dredging into its overall dredging plan (non-Federal dredging would be done on a cost-reimbursable basis), and will coordinate with Washington State Parks and other recreation agencies as the DMMP is implemented in order to identify non-Federal dredging that may be needed at recreation facilities.

Organization
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, Environmental Program
Comment 5
If the Corps has completed soundings analysis indicating a three foot minimum depth will not be maintained in these areas (recreational boat launches and moorage facilities) during the life of your proposed dredged material management plan, State Parks would like to work with the Corps to address Parks' recreational facilities in your DEIS.
Response
See response to comment 1.

Organization
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, Environmental Program
Comment 6
The DEIS states that upland disposal activities would have long-term, minor, indirect effects on Lyon's Ferry State Park, but fails to identify what the effects may be. Parks is concerned that unmanaged upland disposal would create particulate and noxious weed impacts on Lyon's Ferry State Park due to the prevailing wind direction. Without further mitigation, Parks believes that the lack of dust and noxious weed containment at the Lyon's Ferry HMU may create a major, direct impact on Lyon's Ferry State Park. Because specific measures to mitigate such impacts are not included in the DEIS, State Parks cannot adequately address these concerns.
Response
The anticipated effects of upland disposal at the Joso site were largely associated with the development and disposal activities that would take place at that site (e.g., noise, visual impacts, etc.). The Corps does not propose to conduct any "unmanaged disposal" of dredged materials at this site. Dredged materials that would be placed at the site would be wet and therefore would not be likely to cause windblown dust issues at the time of placement. In addition, as outlined in Appendix D of the Draft DMMP/EIS, the site would be restored by placing six inches of topsoil on final slopes, re-seeding the area as part of a continuing restoration program, installing a temporary irrigation system to establish vegetation growth as needed, and re-establishing vegetation similar to plant species present in the surrounding areas. The Corps would monitor the site during use and restoration of the site to minimize fugitive dust to the extent practicable. The Corps would also coordinate with Washington State Parks to ensure noxious weed concerns were addressed if this alternative were pursued.

Back to Appendix O - Response to Comments on the Draft DMMP/EIS