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FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

 

STEESE HIGHWAY BIRCH CREEK BOAT LAUNCH PROJECT # 76591

  

  

Submitted by: Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities 

Fairbanks, Alaska    

Submitted to: Region 7 

Division of Federal Aid United States Fish and Wildlife Service 

Sport Fish Restoration Program  

March 2011  

Prepared by: Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities 

2301 Peger Road Fairbanks, Alaska 99709 

(907) 451‐2262  The following individuals may be contacted for additional information concerning this document: 

 Bruce Campbell, Environmental Manager, Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Northern Region, 2301 Peger Road, Fairbanks, Alaska 99709; 907‐451 ‐2238 

 Steve Klein, United States Fish and Wildlife Service,  Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program Chief,   1011 East Tudor Road, MS 261 Anchorage, Alaska 99503; 907‐786‐3322 

 

  

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CONTENTS 1.0  Purpose and Need ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 

1.1.  Action......................................................................................................................................................................... 4 

1.2.  Purpose ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 

1.3.  Location .................................................................................................................................................................... 4 

1.4.  Need ........................................................................................................................................................................... 4 

1.5.  Decisions that need to be made ........................................................................................................................ 5 

1.6.  Background ............................................................................................................................................................. 5 

2.0  Alternatives ................................................................................................................................................................... 6 

2.1  Build ........................................................................................................................................................................... 6 

2.2  Alternatives not considered for detailed analysis ...................................................................................... 6 

2.3  Alternative Actions ............................................................................................................................................... 6 

3.0  Affected Environment .............................................................................................................................................. 7 

3.1  Physical Environment ......................................................................................................................................... 7 

3.2  Biological Environment ...................................................................................................................................... 7 

3.3  Land Use .................................................................................................................................................................. 8 

3.4  Cultural and Paleontological Resources ...................................................................................................... 8 

3.5  Local Socio-Economic Conditions .................................................................................................................. 9 

4.0  Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................................................... 9 

4.1  Cultural and Paleontological Resources ...................................................................................................... 9 

4.2  Air Quality ............................................................................................................................................................... 9 

4.3  Corps of Engineers Jurisdiction ...................................................................................................................... 9 

4.4  Fish and Wildlife ................................................................................................................................................... 9 

4.5  Right of Way ......................................................................................................................................................... 10 

4.6  Social ....................................................................................................................................................................... 10 

4.7  Economic ................................................................................................................................................................ 10 

4.8  Local Land Use and Transportation Plan ................................................................................................. 10 

4.9  Wild and Scenic River ....................................................................................................................................... 11 

4.10  Threatened, Endangered and Candidate Species ................................................................................. 11 

4.11  Alaska Coastal Management Program ....................................................................................................... 11 

4.12  Floodplains ............................................................................................................................................................ 11 

4.13  Water Quality ........................................................................................................................................................ 11 

4.14  Environmental Justice ...................................................................................................................................... 12 

  

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5.0  List of Preparers ....................................................................................................................................................... 12 

6.0  Permits and Authorizations .................................................................................................................................. 12 

7.0  Consultation and Coordination with the Public and Others .................................................................... 12 

8.0  Public Comment on Scoping Letters and Response .................................................................................... 13 

APPENDIX A, CONSULTED PARTIES ............................................................................................................................. 14 

APPENDIX B, SUMMARY OF RESPONSES .................................................................................................................... 15 

APPENDIX C, ATTACHMENTS .......................................................................................................................................... 16 

Figure 1  Vicinity Map ..................................................................................................................................................... 17 

Figure 2 Proposed Project Plan View ....................................................................................................................... 18 

Figure 3. Proposed Project Design Drawing .......................................................................................................... 19 

USACE Scoping Letter Response ................................................................................................................................ 20 

BLM Wild and Scenic River  Act, Section 7 review .............................................................................................. 22 

Bert Sharp phone Memo ................................................................................................................................................ 30 

DNR scoping response e‐mail, Easement ................................................................................................................ 31 

ADF&G, Fish Habitat ‐permit required e‐mail ...................................................................................................... 32 

Grant Lewis, Tanana Valley Sportsmen’s  Association ...................................................................................... 33 

DNR  Design and Construction Section, Concrete Boat Ramp  (typical) .................................................... 34 

 

  

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1.0 Purpose and Need

1.1. Action The proposed United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) Sport Fish Rehabilitation Fund project would provide a safe and functional boat launch access to Birch Creek.

1.2. Purpose The purpose of the proposed facility is to provide access to Birch Creek for recreational boating. This would include a concrete boat ramp and parking for eight single vehicles and twenty-one vehicles with boat trailers that allows recreational users to launch their boats into Birch Creek from a stable ramp. Figure 3 Appendix C shows the proposed layout of the facility.

1.3. Location The USFWS, Alaska Department Fish & Game Sport Fish Restoration (DSF), and Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) propose construction of a boat launch facility for Birch Creek on a recently acquired parcel previously a part of U. S. Survey 1303, which lies in Section 11 of T 10N R 16E, of Fairbanks Meridian, U S G S Circle C-1 Quad, Latitude 65° 42’ 50.76” North and Longitude 144° 20’ 53.60” West, adjacent to the Steese Highway at MP 147 and downstream of both Birch Creek Wild River and the Steese Highway bridge. Figure 1 Appendix C indicates location of project in Alaska, Figure 2 Appendix C shows outline of proposed facility in relation to the creek 

1.4. Need The Sport Fish Restoration Act (Dingell-Johnson Act, 1950) is administered by the USFWS and it placed taxes on sport fishing equipment to fund The Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund (SFRBTF), which provides funding for sport fish restoration. Executive Order 12962 (1995)1 states in Section 1; … that Federal Agencies shall to the extent permitted by law and where practicable, and in cooperation with States and Tribes, improve the quantity, function, sustainable productivity, and distribution of U. S. aquatic resources for increased recreational fishing opportunities by: … (d) providing access to and promoting awareness of opportunities for public participation and enjoyment of U.S. recreational fishery resources.  The mission of the DSF is to protect and improve the state’s recreational fisheries resources.

                                                             1 Executive Order 12962,  Federal Register Vol. 60 No. 111; June 7, 1995 

  

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The fourth goal in the DSF’s Strategic Plan is: “To protect and improve public access to recreational fisheries resources”. The third objective under this goal is to “identify, prioritize, and develop new access sites and facilities projects.” 2 The proposed project fulfills both the Federal and the State mandates to improve sport fishing resources by providing a safe and functional boat launch that provides access to Birch Creek. Currently there is one boat launch facility that will accommodate use by motorized boats but this point of access is inadequate, consisting of an unimproved access leading to a gravel bar adjacent to Birch Creek. Vehicles risk getting stuck in the gravel and sand and requiring assistance to retrieve their vehicle and trailer resulting in ruts in the river bank. There are two other boat launch locations within the Wild River Corridor of Birch Creek which cater to canoe, kayak and raft users and require boats to be hand carried to the river bank. The closest of these to this proposed boat launch location is a canoe take out approximately 17 river miles upstream and does not provide access for trailers with motorized boats. The other launch is located 146 miles upstream and is limited to canoe and raft use, the river being too shallow for motorized use. USFWS approval will allow DOT&PF to construct the public boat launch and will support the key goal of the DSF by constructing this proposed boat launch facility.

1.5. Decisions that need to be made USFWS, Region 7 must determine whether the proposed action will result in a significant impact upon the human environment necessitating an Environmental Impact Statement or if a Finding of No Significant Impact is appropriate.

1.6. Background Birch Creek supports grayling, pike, sheefish, whitefish and salmon but there is no designated and easily accessible location for power boat users to access the creek. The DSF has identified the need for additional fishing and boating opportunities on Birch Creek. The proposed project will construct the only access point to Birch Creek with a boat ramp. Birch Creek converges with the Yukon River a straight line distance of 75 miles to the north, which results in over 200 river miles of fishing and boating opportunities. Through this action Birch Creek will offer angling opportunities on an underutilized fishing resource, and also provide recreational motorized boating possibilities.

                                                             2 Responsible Management Of Alaska’s Recreational Fisheries In The 21st Century http://146.63.158.37/Static/strat_plan/PDFs/StrategicPlan2010Final.pdf  

  

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In 2001 DSF selected the general vicinity of Birch Creek and the Steese Highway for development of a public fishing access. At that time no land purchase opportunity was available. The vision of constructing a boat launch at this location has existed for ten years, but has been delayed by acquiring land for the site. The Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently finalized the purchase of a parcel north the Steese Highway and west of Birch Creek (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, Appendix C) with funds obtained by DSF from the USFWS Sport Fish Restoration Program. The successful acquisition of this parcel allows the DSF to propose use of SFRBTF to construct the planned facility.

2.0 Alternatives

2.1 Build The construction of a boat launch facility at the proposed location is the preferred alternative because it fulfills the purpose and need.

2.2 Alternatives not considered for detailed analysis The alternative to constructing the boat launch is to not construct it. This would result in inadequate access and deprive those interested in use of state resources and recreational opportunities on Birch Creek, and potentially Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, and would not fulfill the purpose and need The no build alternative remains an option until a formal decision is made by USFWS regarding this project.

2.3 Alternative Actions The DSF investigated the possibility of acquiring other property in the vicinity to construct this facility. Road access to Birch Creek at a location where there is sufficient depth of water for motorized boats to operate is limited, and the intersection of the Steese Highway with Birch Creek is one of those few locations. The selected parcel was the only one found to be available in this area to provide for construction of a boat launch. This opportunity at MP147, where the Steese Highway crosses Birch Creek is unique. As a result of these constraints, alternatives are to build or to not build. To not build would result in inadequate access and deprive those interested in use of state resources and recreational opportunities on Birch Creek, and potentially Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, and would not fulfill the purpose and need   

  

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3.0 Affected Environment

3.1 Physical Environment The land proposed for the access road and parking facility is near water level and is saturated. The parcel consists of predominantly shrub scrub wetlands with small inclusions of mounds with stands of larger trees. The proposed project site is located adjacent to Birch Creek where the river is in a low energy meandering stretch. The parking area will require approximately 10,000 cubic yards of fill in 2 acres of area. It is anticipated that 2,850 cubic yards of surface course will be placed on the fill. The boat launch will be constructed downstream of the Steese Highway Bridge and the river is not anticipated to have a significant erosion or deposition at the boat ramp. The constructed ramp will project into the flow path below ordinary high water and will force flow away from the west bank at depth. The width of the river at this point is such that there is no detrimental effect from a constraint of the water flow. The Steese Highway bridge abutments protect the ramp area from flood water by constraining the river flow.

3.2 Biological Environment The two acres proposed for the parking and launch facility are indistinguishable from the surrounding land. The same topography and plant life continue for the full extent of the creek drainage to its junction with the Yukon River. The terrain is not unique to this site and is indiscernible from the millions of acres in this part of interior Alaska that comprises the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge (9 million acres), as well as State and private land holdings. The proposed project is located about 12 miles from the Yukon Flats Refuge boundary. The USFWS website3 states the following regarding the biological aspects of the refuge;

The refuge supports the highest density of breeding ducks in Alaska, and includes one of the greatest waterfowl breeding areas in North America. In fact, most of Yukon Flats' birds are seasonal residents, fleeing south before the hard grip of winter closes over the land. Some 13 species, (including boreal chickadees, great gray owls, spruce grouse, three-toed woodpeckers and ravens), remain on the refuge year around. The same landscape that so favors waterfowl is also beneficial to furbearers, many of which, including beaver, lynx, marten, mink, muskrat and river otter, thrive on the water-laced flood plain. Moose benefit from the new growth encouraged by fire and flood, and can be found throughout the refuge. These large ungulates are the region's most important game animal;

                                                             3 U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge System http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles  

  

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to the point that, for many subsistence hunters living on or around the refuge, "moose" is virtually synonymous with "meat." Grizzly bears are found throughout the refuge in low concentrations, while the more common black bears tend to keep to the forested lowlands. Wolves can also be encountered anywhere on the refuge, but are rarely sighted. Dall sheep can be spotted on the alpine tundra of the White Mountains and Hodzana Highlands.“

3.3 Land Use The project location is remote from human population with the exception of the small population of approximately 96 residents in the town of Central which is 30 miles southwest of the project site and a population of approximately 99 residents of the town of Circle, which is located 10 miles northeast (ACD)4. Other than these small towns, the site is over 145 miles from the populated Fairbanks area. Summer tourists and year round outdoor enthusiasts travel to this vicinity for the fishing and hunting opportunities and to access the route of the Yukon Quest that runs very near this location. This location is below the terminus of the Birch Creek Wild River. The wild river is primarily used by rafters and boaters for float trips from Upper Birch Creek Wayside at MP 94 of the Steese Highway. Most use the take out at MP 140.4 of the Steese Highway, providing a 110 mile trip. Others may use the gravel bar and road access at MP 147 (opposite side of river and upstream of the Steese Highway bridge, within the Wild River corridor) to end their journey.

The United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Eastern Interior Field Office (BLM) was required by Federal Law to do a Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, Section 7 Determination (attached) that evaluated the impact of the proposed boat launch on the wild portion of Birch Creek. In this review BLM determined that the construction and subsequent use of the proposed boat launch “would not invade the area or unreasonably diminish the scenic, recreational, fish and wildlife values present in the area as of the date of designation”.

3.4 Cultural and Paleontological Resources The cultural resource staff of Tanana Chiefs Conference conducted an investigation of this location prior to the sale of the property to ADNR, who purchased it on behalf of DSF. Tanana Chiefs’ investigation (on file at DOT&PF, Tanana Chiefs Conference and SHPO) stated that this was the location of Twelve

                                                             4 State of Alaska, Commerce, DCRA, Community Database, Community Information http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/dca/commdb/CF_BLOCK.htm

 

  

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Mile House (Roadhouse), but that nothing with integrity remains. No archaeological resources were found.

3.5 Local Socio-Economic Conditions There is no substantial local economy near this location. The nearest populations are at Circle and Central. These locations are both economically dependent on seasonal tourism, small scale placer mining, DOT&PF maintenance operations and other seasonal sources of employment.

4.0 Environmental Consequences

4.1 Cultural and Paleontological Resources No cultural or archaeological resources exist in the vicinity of the proposed project. The State Historic Preservation Officer has concurred with the finding of “No Historic Properties Affected” by construction of the boat launch facility at this location (response dated December 8, 2010 is attached, Appendix C).

4.2 Air Quality The area is not in an area of air quality concern. It is well outside the PM 2.5 non compliance and CO maintenance areas of the Fairbanks/North Pole vicinity. There is no anticipated air quality impact from construction of the boat launch.

4.3 Corps of Engineers Jurisdiction The project will be constructed in a wetlands area. The Steese Highway embankment and a narrow strip adjacent to Birch Creek are the primary uplands in this vicinity. The access road and parking area will require fill placed in 2 acres of wetlands. These are Palustrine Emergent and Palustrine Shrub wetlands (NWI)5. They are the most common terrain in the area, and indistinguishable from the adjoining lands that comprise the vast majority of the Birch Creek drainage from above the Steese Highway to the Yukon River.

Mitigation for the wetlands impacts will be determined through the permitting authority of the Corps of Engineers and its authority to determine mitigation ratios and values.

4.4 Fish and Wildlife The boat launch will provide for more fishing opportunity and is anticipated to create a localized increase in fish take without a detrimental effect on the fish populations, resident and anadromous. The boat launch may also be used by hunters to gain access to upstream and downstream game opportunities. Stream travel is limited to conditions dictated by creek and by weather, with upstream

                                                             5 http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/  

  

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motorized travel being more difficult than downstream. The launch on the opposite bank is currently used for hunting opportunities as well as fishing, and this facility will improve the access for both uses with less damage to the river bank. Hunting and fishing activities are controlled by ADF&G on state land and by USFWS for subsistence use on federal lands.

USFWS website6 in reference to Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, states The refuge is open to boating, camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, photography, and other types of recreation subject to applicable rules and regulations. The refuge is not accessible by road. It can be reached by commercial flights, charters, and by float trip and powered boat, from Circle, Nome Creek Road, and by short upstream trip from the Yukon River Bridge. This boat launch would provide an additional location to initiate a float trip or power boat trip into the refuge. The National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act of 1997 states that hunting and fishing are two of the six priority public uses on national wildlife refuges, and are to be facilitated when compatible with refuge purposes. The proposed motor boat launch is compatible with these uses and enhances the utility of the refuge.

4.5 Right of Way The project will be constructed on property acquired for this purpose by DNR and there are no additional Right of Way acquisitions required.

4.6 Social The vicinity of Birch Creek and the Steese Highway is remote. There is undocumented (anecdotal) use of the existing access for fishing and hunting. The construction of the boat launch facility will make access to the river easier for all interested, and will have no social bias, only making launch facilities more reliable.

4.7 Economic The increase in travel to Birch Creek may provide increased sales opportunity to local establishments, but no other economic impact is anticipated.

4.8 Local Land Use and Transportation Plan This location appears to be outside the DNR Yukon-Tanana Area Plan and outside the Eastern Tanana Area Plan. The location is not BLM land, and is not included in the 1986 Steese National Conservation Area Plan. It will lie within the boundary of the Eastern Interior Resource Management Plan when it is

                                                             6 U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, http://yukonflats.fws.gov/  

  

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developed. This new plan is scheduled for release for public review and comment in the near future. The current status is that there are no land use plans that address the vicinity of the proposed boat launch and therefore the project does not create land use conflicts.

4.9 Wild and Scenic River The proposed project is downstream from Birch Creek Wild River and a Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, Section 7 analysis has been provided by BLM.  The evaluation determined that the project will not invade and will not unreasonably degrade the scenic,  recreational, and fish and wildlife values present in the area as of the date of designation of Birch Creek Wild River. 

4.10 Threatened, Endangered and Candidate Species There are no endangered or candidate species near this project location.

4.11 Alaska Coastal Management Program The proposed facility is not located in a coastal management zone.

4.12 Floodplains The project will be constructed adjacent to and partially in the active channel of Birch Creek. It would be indicated in the floodplain of Birch Creek if it were in a Federal Emergency Management Agency mapped area, but there are no Flood Insurance Maps for this area. The construction will constrain the river flow as the ramp will reach into the channel. The effect the ramp will have is to force drainage at very low flow away from the western bank. The elevation of the proposed facility is low in comparison to the topography of the area and so will not affect the flow at flood stage, as it will be at or below the elevation of the Steese Highway (upstream). Any channelization or flood water drainage impact from this proposed project is overshadowed by the existing riprap abutments of the bridge immediately upstream and the relatively elevated Steese Highway.

4.13 Water Quality The proposed boat launch facility is not anticipated to degrade water quality in Birch Creek. Upper Birch Creek is currently listed as an impaired water body with turbidity listed as water quality standard impacted. The boat launch is below the Steese Highway Bridge and not in the upper drainage. The current launch (opposite bank of river) is located on a sand and gravel bar with vehicle access to the water’s edge in loose material that vehicles can easily rut and damage. This can add to the turbidity and sediment load of Birch Creek causing temporary degradation of the water. The proposed launch will have an articulated concrete ramp that will provide firm footing for vehicles and trailers and will extend into the water thereby not disturbing beach material and significantly reducing the

  

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associated degradation of water quality associated with use of the existing primitive boat launch.

4.14 Environmental Justice No ethnic groups will be negatively impacted as result of this project. The project will enhance fishing and recreational motorized boating access to all users. The local community of Circle is predominantly Athabascan7, and the ethnic composition of Central is not characterized in the Community Database Online. Both of these communities will benefit from improved access to fishing resources.

5.0 List of Preparers Thomas Benjamin (DOT&PF), Sarah Schacher (DOT&PF), Dave Stoller (DSF) and Dave Rutz (USFWS).

6.0 Permits and Authorizations It is anticipated that a United States Army Corps of Engineers 404 permit will be required for fill placed in wetlands to construct the road, parking area, ramp access and ramp with protective riprap. Birch Creek is not listed as a Section 10 Navigable River and so no Section 10 permit is anticipated for construction of the ramp itself. A DNR easement for placement of the ramp below normal high water on State land will be required. An ADF&G Fish Habitat permit is also anticipated to be required.

7.0 Consultation and Coordination with the Public and Others

7.1 Consulted Agencies See Appendix A 

7.2 PUBLIC AND AGENCY COMMENTS TO DRAFT EA Very few responses were received from the draft EA availability advertisement or State of Alaska Home Page; Public Notices Online. The responses received were primarily requests for copy of EA.

Two comments were received from individuals identifying themselves as paddlers that make use of Birch Creek. One comment was in favor of the boat launch as an additional location to take out, the other expressed concern about sharing the creek with motorized craft, and is concerned about meeting a jet boat or air boat on the creek.

Response: To the first comment is appreciation of taking the time to express the point of view. To the second; we can understand that concern. There are some boats that will make it further upstream in more marginal conditions, and certainly air boats do not need water depth for propulsion. These type of boats are

                                                             7 Alaska Division of Community and Regional Affairs, Community Database Online 

  

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heavier and wider than typical manually propelled craft and it is our understanding that these dimension of boats are not able to manage upstream travel more than 20 to 30 miles, depending on water level in the creek. This will leave 120 to 130 miles of Birch Creek for non powered boat use.

Comment: USFWS Yukon Flats Wildlife Refuge administration expressed concern about the introduction of Elodea SPP. Into the Birch Creek drainage. Elodea is an invasive aquatic plant that has been found in the Chena Slough in interior Alaska. It is believed to be migrating into the Chena River. It is possible for a boat using the Chena River to carry viable plant material out of the Chena, either in boat, boat propulsion units or on the trailer. It is thought that Elodea would survive the transit from the Chena to Birch Creek. It is therefore possible that Elodea could be transferred from the Chena to Birch Creek.

Response: There is already a boat launch at Birch Creek (a road from the Steese Highway to Birch Creek that reaches the gravel bars formed adjacent to the creek on the south side of the bridge and east side of river). Thus there is already a mechanism for Elodea to transfer to Birch Creek. The easier use of the proposed launch may attract more boaters to Birch Creek. It is possible for boaters to come directly from the Chena River or Slough. This could be a mechanism for Elodea transport.

The introduction of Elodea to any additional stream in the interior is the real concern and must be dealt with, and that must occur at the source water. Informational kiosks and/or wash down facilities at Chena Slough and River take outs is the only way to prevent the further spread of Elodea. Information at the “at risk rivers” is too late to expect someone to wash down, or inspect and remove vegetation from their trailer and not have some of Elodea wash into an unaffected water. A survey is being done the summer of 2011 to try to determine the extent of Elodea in the Chena system. This will provide information as to what take out sites need to have information posted and/or clean out facilities provided. Only if it is removed where it is can the spread be minimized.

8.0 Public Comment on Scoping Letters and Response See Appendix B

 

  

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APPENDIX A, CONSULTED PARTIES Scoping letters were e-mailed to the following individuals or organizations;

Bailey, Meadow P Department of Transportation Bainbridge, Steven T Department of Environmental Conservation Bennett, John F Department of Transportation Birkholz, Ethan N Department of Transportation Bittner, Judith E Department of Natural Resources -SHPO Brown, Janet L Department of Transportation Campbell, Bruce W Department of Transportation Christy Everett, Unites States Army Corps of Engineers Dietrick, Larry V Department of Environmental Conservation Drzewiecki, Gregory W Department of Environmental Conservation Heather Dean, Environmental Protection Agency Interior Airboaters Assoc. Jennifer Curtis, Environmental Protection Agency Krol, Longin Department of Transportation Lenore Heppler, Bureau of Land Management McLean, Robert F Department Fish Game Milne, Clark R Department of Transportation Palmer, Sean P Department of Environmental Conservation Potter, Steve B Department of Transportation Ralph Seekins Alaska Outdoor Council Rod Arno Alaska Outdoor Council Sackinger, Bruce Department of Natural Resources, MLW-LAND; Schacher, Sarah E Department of Transportation Stoller, David L Department Fish Game Tanana Valley Sportsmen's Assoc. Thies, Howard Department of Transportation Titus, James Stephen Department of Transportation Woster, Timothy J Department of Transportation

  

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APPENDIX B, SUMMARY OF RESPONSES Public and agency response to the proposed project was minimal. There were four agency responses and two public.

ADF&G, Division of Fish Habitat, Laura Jacobs indicated that a Fish Habitat permit will be required.

DNR, Division of Mining Land & Water informed us that an easement will be required for land use below ordinary high water for the launch ramp,

USACE assigned the project number POA-2010-939 for future correspondence. The project does not affect a USACE Section 10 listed navigable river and so will not require a Section 10 permit. Placement of fill in wetlands will require a Section 404 permit.

BLM advised that they will need to prepare a Wild and Scenic River Act, Section 7 review. The BLM review determined that the project will not have a direct or adverse effect on the values for which Birch Creek was added to the Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

Grant Lewis of Tanana Valley Sportsman Association said “A boat launch/rest area has been needed on Birch Creek in this area for a long – long time.”

Bert Sharp former State Senator from the interior region indicated in a phone conversation that a boat launch in this vicinity has been supported since 1998-1999 session when he served. Some money was provided at that time with the intention to make Birch Creek more accessible for river activity. He has used the gravel bar on the far side of Birch Creek, upstream of the Bridge to launch boats, and has seen many a vehicle get stuck in the gravel. He encourages DOT&PF to go forward with this project to conclude a 13 year effort to provide access to Birch Creek.

 

  

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APPENDIX C, ATTACHMENTS    

  

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FIGURE 1  VICINITY MAP 

   

  

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FIGURE 2 PROPOSED PROJECT PLAN VIEW 

   

  

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FIGURE 3. PROPOSED PROJECT DESIGN DRAWING  

 

 

  

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USACE SCOPING LETTER RESPONSE 

 

 

 

  

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BLM WILD AND SCENIC RIVER  ACT, SECTION 7 REVIEW 

  

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BERT SHARP PHONE MEMO 

  

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DNR SCOPING RESPONSE E‐MAIL, EASEMENT  

 

 

 

  

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ADF&G, FISH HABITAT ‐PERMIT REQUIRED E‐MAIL 

 

   

  

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GRANT LEWIS, TANANA VALLEY SPORTSMEN’S  ASSOCIATION  

  

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DNR  DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION SECTION, CONCRETE BOAT RAMP  (TYPICAL)