The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has released a draft feasibility study for the Smoky Hill Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Project and is seeking public input during a 30-day review period that includes a community meeting next week.
The Corps has made a preliminary determination that the proposed restoration would not result in significant environmental degradation and has prepared an unsigned Finding of No Significant Impact under the National Environmental Policy Act.
A public meeting will be held Tuesday, October 7, from 5:50 to 7:30 p.m. at the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce Annex, located at 218 North Seventh Street. The meeting is open to all interested parties.
The restoration project targets the Old Channel of the Smoky Hill River and Lakewood Lake Park area. The original river channel was bypassed in 1961 when flood risk management infrastructure was constructed, leading to degraded aquatic habitat that the current project aims to restore.
Project Components
The comprehensive restoration plan includes construction of a sediment forebay at the upstream confluence to filter coarse sediment entering the Old Channel. The Corps proposes dredging approximately 105,000 cubic yards of sediment from two reaches of the Old Channel to a depth of about seven feet.
The channel would be reconstructed with natural features including riffles, pools, runs and glides. Along one reach, 1.7 acres of wetland shelves would be created to provide habitat and water quality benefits such as nutrient and phosphorus removal.
Dredged materials would be reused to construct variable-depth wetland habitat around Lakewood Lake. An existing culvert would be excavated to reconnect the lake with the Old Channel, raising the water level approximately six feet and supporting creation of about 35 acres of emergent wetland habitat.
The project calls for removing the Western Star Mill Weir and replacing it with five step pools to restore aquatic connectivity. Two habitat weir structures would be installed for water depth management, and existing trails in the wetland creation area would be improved.
Environmental Considerations
The Corps anticipates the project may affect but would not likely adversely impact the Whooping Crane and monarch butterfly, both protected species. Coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is ongoing.
The project will operate under Nationwide Permit 27 for aquatic habitat restoration activities and complies with Kansas Section 401 Water Quality Certification requirements. Construction would involve temporary disturbance to soils, plants and wildlife, but the Corps expects long-term beneficial impacts to aquatic habitat.
A programmatic agreement is being developed with the Kansas State Historic Preservation Office and the City of Salina to address cultural resource compliance, with input from the Pawnee Nation, Friends of the River, the Smoky Hill Museum, and the Salina Certified Local Government.
Public Input
The draft study and supporting documents are available at https://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Media/Public-Notices/Planning-Public-Notices/Article/4308865/smoky-hill-draft-feasibility-study-and-integrated-environmental-assessment-ea-a/.
Those unable to attend the meeting can submit written comments via email to Katharine.E.Lynch@usace.army.mil or by mail to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District, ATTN: Planning Branch Environmental Resources Section (PMP-R), 601 East 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
The project is being conducted under Section 216 of the Flood Control Act of 1970 in cooperation with the City of Salina.
