SNAKE RIVER, Wash. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Walla Walla District invites public comments on a draft environmental assessment (EA) and draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Inland Avian Predation Management Plan (IAPMP). Comments are due by Dec. 2.
The Corps is proposing land management actions on federal lands located at Goose Island (Potholes Reservoir, Grant County, Wash.) and Crescent Island (McNary Reservoir on the Columbia River, Walla Walla County, Wash.) to reduce avian predation on juvenile salmonids. The EA evaluates the environmental effects of the proposed actions and a reasonable range of alternatives.
The Corps has led a joint effort with the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) to develop the IAPMP for managing birds that prey on Endangered Species Act-listed fish species in the Columbia and Snake rivers. This effort by the Corps and Reclamation is in compliance with the Federal Columbia River Power System Biological Opinion from the National Marine Fisheries Service and will incorporate the necessary National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis and documentation. The IAPMP focuses on colony-based habitat management actions at Goose and Crescent Islands and also includes potential actions in areas where bird relocation may occur.
The draft FONSI, EA, IAPMP, and related documents are available for viewing on the Corps website at www.nww.usace.army.mil/Missions/Projects/InlandAvianPredationManagementPlan.aspx.
Public comments must be e-mailed or postmarked no later than Monday, Dec. 2, 2013, to be considered as part of the public record. E-mail comments to avianpredator@usace.army.mil; or send by U.S. mail to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: PM-PD-PF IAPMP; 201 North 3rd Ave., Walla Walla, WA 99362.
Groups, organizations and agencies are encouraged to submit consolidated comments. If you have questions or need additional information, contact the IAPMP project manager, at 509-527-7247.
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Release no. 13-071