[env-trinity] FW: Lower Steiner Flat and Upper Junction City Channel Rehabilitation Sites: Final Environmental document Available!

[Gutermuth, F. Brandt]

Sorry for any cross postings on this one - I didn't want to miss anyone.

Dear Trinity River Enthusiasts, Agency Reviewers, and Interested Parties,

The Trinity River Restoration Program (TRRP), with federal co-lead agencies, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and with the California State lead agency, the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, is working together to inform all interested parties about this year's proposed Trinity River restoration work at Lower Steiner Flat and Upper Junction City sites.

The public review period for the DRAFT Trinity River Channel Rehabilitation Sites: Lower Steiner Flat (River Mile 90.2-91.3) and Upper Junction City (River Mile 79.8-80.4), Environmental Assessment/Initial Study (EA/IS),  ended on March 21, 2012.  The Final Environmental Assessment / Initial Study, which meets the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), is now available at: http://www.trrp.net/?p=3843

The Final EA/IS includes response to 6 written comment letters in Appendix B and several changes.   More information has been added concerning mining, the presence and planned treatment of dyer's woad (a non-native species of concern in Trinity County), and river access during the proposed construction period.


Changes to update information concerning mining operations at the Lower Steiner Flat site have been added to page 62 of the Geology, Fluvial Morphology, Minerals, and Soils section, under Impact 3.3-3.  The Final EA/IS has been updated to show that mining claims in this area have been located on lands withdrawn for powersite purposes and that the claims are subject to BLM review under Public Law 359 - Mining in Powersite Withdrawals Act of 1955.  BLM has determined that placer mining operations on these claims would substantially interfere with the restoration project and that mining operations should not be allowed within the boundaries of the restoration project.

Changes to update weed information have been made in Section 3.7, Vegetation, Wildlife, and Wetlands, starting at page 104 and continuing throughout applicable sections.  Dyer's woad, has been identified as a priority noxious weed of concern at the Upper Junction City site, and the measures to prevent spread of this species have been included in the project mitigation plans.
Construction at Lower Steiner Flat and Upper Junction City is scheduled to start in summer 2012.

Please contact me if you have any questions concerning these projects.

Sincerely,

Brandt Gutermuth




Brandt Gutermuth
Environmental Scientist
Trinity River Restoration Program
PO Box 1300, 1313 S Main St
Weaverville, CA  96093
530.623.1806 (voice)
530.623.5944 (fax)
www.trrp.net<www.trrp.net%20>


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