The U.S Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District (USACE), proposes to issue the Benton-Conservation District a 5-year construction license to implement their proposed Amon Creek Relocation project. The proposed action incorporates multiple components of work intended to enhance the physical environment (to include aquatic and terrestrial environments) through the creation of new and the improvement of existing thermal refugia within the lower Yakima River. The proposed action would take place partially within the Yakima River Delta Habitat Management Unit (HMU), starting at the mouth of Amon Creek, approximately 2.5 miles upstream of the confluence of the Yakima and Columbia rivers. Other related components of work would occur outside of USACE lands, along the shoreline and mainstem Yakima River. The purpose of the proposed action is to enhance the migration and spawning success of salmonids in the Yakima River by creating additional cold-water habitat and thereby providing thermal refuge from increasing annual water temperatures. This is achieved through the relocation of Amon Creek and the other proposed components of work designed to enhance the existing aquatic habitat and improve the existing thermal conditions in the lower Yakima River.

Public Scoping Comments:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, is soliciting public and agency comments regarding the scope of the Amon Creek Relocation project. The purpose of the proposed action is to enhance the migration and spawning success of salmonids in the Yakima River by creating additional cold-water habitat and thereby providing thermal refuge from increasing annual water temperatures.

Scoping comments will be accepted from Jan. 20 to Feb. 18. USACE is particularly interested in input regarding alternatives and environmental effects that should be considered. Scoping comments will be used to 1) identify issues and opportunities to address, 2) develop alternatives, and 3) identify potential environmental effects (detrimental and beneficial) of possible changes to the watershed.

How can I comment?

There are several ways that you can provide input on this study.

You can submit a comment through the NEPA Online Comment Form, https://www.nww.usace.army.mil/EnvironmentalComplianceComment/ or by emailing NEPANWW@usace.army.mil, inserting “Amon Creek Relocation” in the subject line.

You may submit written comments via U.S. Mail to:

Comments need to be submitted or postmarked no later than February 18, 2025 for consideration.  All comments submitted will be considered and become part of the public record.

For more information on the public meetings or about this study, please contact Austen Whelan at Austen.P.Whelan@usace.army.mil.