The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District has issued a revised Dworshak Project Master Plan (MP), including a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and an Environmental Assessment (EA).  These final documents are available via the links on the right-hand side of this webpage.

MPs guide how USACE manages Dworshak project lands surrounding Dworshak Reservoir behind Dworshak Dam.  MPs are about the land – they do not address dam operations (e.g., spill, fish passage, or dam breaching), or flood risk management (e.g., levees). USACE expects MPs to have a lifespan of approximately 20 years.

USACE prepared an EA to address potential effects associated with the draft MP. USACE held a public comment period for the draft MP, EA, and draft FONSI in 2015.

Background

The original MP for Dworshak Reservoir was written in 1970. Since then, changes to site conditions and operations resulted in the need to update management strategies. In 2011, USACE completed the Dworshak Public Use Plan (PUP) to address changed conditions and new recreation demands. The Dworshak MP built on work accomplished during development of the PUP. The planning team used previous efforts of working groups and interested parties, as well as the public input and collaboration used to develop the PUP. Refinement of resource objectives along with additional analysis required by USACE policy resulted in a comprehensive, conceptual level planning document to guide future use and development at Dworshak Reservoir. Finalization of the MP also brought the Dworshak Project into compliance with current USACE policy and will facilitate future actions to support balanced management of Project resources.